Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new examinations and addendums, particularly regarding right knee flare-ups and a back disorder potentially caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied, and his left knee disability received increased ratings of 20% each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, right knee, bilateral foot, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether it was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or right foot bunionectomy with hallux valgus and decreased mobility, osteoarthritis, old avulsion, and calcaneal spurs aggravated his obesity. The VA will obtain additional opinions from an examiner to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting findings and deficiencies in the examination reports. Further VA examinations are needed to determine the nature of any identified lumbar spine and knee disabilities, their relationship to active service, and whether they are related to or aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine condition and its relationship to service, including secondary service connection for headaches and post-concussive symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records. The Veteran is presumed to have served with the Air Force Reserve, but his periods of active duty and training need to be verified.

The Veteran's right knee instability and left knee instability have been granted separate 10 percent ratings effective February 18, 2015. The initial rating for the right knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left foot, and hip disabilities due to the need for additional examinations and development of his employment history.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran met the criteria for a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 from April 25, 2017 as a result of March 2017 back surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically regarding loss of range of motion during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability evaluation, effective date prior to March 2, 2012 for service connection of a right knee scar, and extension of temporary total rating due to convalescence from right knee surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee strain with osteoarthritis and left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears, finding that the earliest date of claim was June 5, 2019.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for low back disability, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and left arm neuropathy. The heart disability, GERD, and sleep apnea claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the September 2019 denial supports readjudicating the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical strain is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.,Service connection for spondylosis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), left knee osteoarthritis with osteophyte formation, right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes, and right hip strain with limitation of extension are all denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and partial meniscectomy residuals, as well as left knee osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions originated during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to duty to assist errors, including a need for another examination of his left knee condition.