Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of cervical spine disability and RUE radiculopathy have been denied.,The Veteran's initial claim for a cervical spine disability was filed on December 9, 2016. The Board found that the date of entitlement arose prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his right hand condition, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and neck disability. The VA must obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a right thumb injury is denied. Separate ratings are granted for limitation of motion of the right index and long fingers, as well as noncompensable ratings for painful and weakened motion of the right ring and little fingers.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and needs further clarification on whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to the removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has found insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his service. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DDD are granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence that was added to the Veteran's file, and a new VA back examination is needed to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar retrolisthesis L5-S1 with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA's regulatory definition.,Service connection for a left hand condition, including the left pinky finger, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no link to service.,Service connection for lumbago with mild osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (back condition) is granted as it is related to his service-connected left knee DJD.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is granted as it is also related to his service-connected left knee DJD.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a left hip disability. The claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions rather than presumptive exposure or secondary to another condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty and TDIU prior to January 10, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's joint pain and his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right tibia stress fracture. A new VA examination is needed to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 9, 2021.

The Veteran's right hip disability, including his total hip replacement, is rated at 30 percent from August 1, 2021. The previous ratings for flexion and extension are denied prior to March 22, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee, hip, and low back degenerative arthritis as well as right and left lower extremity neuropathy that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with DJD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted an initial 90 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right hip disability, effective March 1, 2018. The Veteran previously had a total right hip arthroplasty in 2006 due to osteoarthritis and continues to experience significant functional impairment requiring use of assistive devices.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues of PTSD, depression, and plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis and plantar calcaneal spur, left foot are all being reviewed.

The Board denied the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence had not been received.