Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted a 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied for other conditions.,Bilateral hearing loss and bilateral plantar fasciitis are not service connected.

The Veteran's back and sciatica radiculopathy are granted as service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his now-service connected low back disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his condition was incurred in service and is related to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from June 7, 2017, to May 17, 2018.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records of VA treatment that should be obtained and added to the claims file. The Veteran's complete and updated records of VA treatment should be requested and associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found no basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The Board has denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him physically or mentally unable to engage in substantially gainful employment prior to December 11, 2018. Therefore, TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis on a secondary basis to the left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the left knee disability caused or worsened the right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to newly received service treatment records showing treatment for knee conditions during service. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right and left knee conditions has been remanded due to the receipt of additional VA treatment records. The case must be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for review of these new documents.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and associated neurological manifestations due to inadequate discussion in the January 2021 decision. The remand also includes adjudication of TDIU, DEA, and SMC issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues related to his hip disability, genitourinary condition, and PTSD due to unclear examination reports and inextricability of certain issues.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 22, 2021 for the grant of service connection for right hip osteoarthritis with hip joint replacement and status post right hip replacement surgery scars.

The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), finding that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis in the lumbar spine and bilateral knee replacements. The effective date for this decision is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's statements and medical records need further examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for pes planus and plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need to consider SSA records.