Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his skin condition, left tibia stress fracture with osteoarthritis, and right tibia stress fracture with osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA will schedule a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's PFB and provide updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbosacral strain and lumbar stenosis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's neck symptoms at specific points in the past, including May 28, 2012, to June 30, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which may be related to her service or other factors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, specifically to obtain physical therapy records from Hilltop Physical Therapy-Wakeman.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his knee symptoms and service history.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims related to radiculopathy of the upper extremities, ankle sprains, and cervical pain with degenerative arthritis. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia disorder), lumbosacral strain, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, leftward septal deviation, nose and neck scars, and urinary disability (manifested by increased frequency).,The Board found the evidence to be approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during or are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted initial disability ratings.,PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle and left ankle disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee strain is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and need for clarification of his knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to missing VA medical records, lack of ankylosis evaluation, and potential unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to joint disease disability, as well as pension benefits prior to March 19, 2021, and special monthly pension. The Veteran's joint disabilities are being examined again to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent, and the case is remanded for further development.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and dextroscoliosis is denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 11, 2013 for the awards of service connection for various conditions including PTSD and major depressive disorder with TBI residuals, migraine headaches, left knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella, right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, tinnitus, and scars of the bilateral knees, left calf (other impairment).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 8, 2010. Effective from that date, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 10% prior to November 20, 2018. From November 20, 2018, to July 30, 2020, the rating was increased to 20%. Since then, a higher rating has not been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, Meniere's disease, diabetes, tendonitis of the right wrist, mild osteoarthritis of the left knee, and mild osteoarthritis of the right knee, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to November 6, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.