Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and stenosis is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative arthritis and right knee strain, right ankle strain, right hip strain, impairment of the right thigh, and limitation of extension of the right thigh due to their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder and bilateral foot disabilities, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 17, 2022. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.

The Board has dismissed all service connection appeals due to the Veteran's death.

Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. A rating of 30 percent for headaches, effective as of August 28, 2018, is also granted. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD remains denied.

Service connection for Parkinson's disease is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Guam.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, secondary to service-connected Parkinson's disease, is granted.

Your claim for service connection for glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis of the left shoulder has been resolved in your favor with a grant of benefits effective November 21, 2019. As all requested benefits have already been granted, this appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings due to CUE in multiple rating decisions. The Board finds that the RO did not address all theories of CUE, specifically regarding receipt of new and relevant service department records submitted by the Veteran in 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding treatment records and a medical opinion on Allopurinol's effects.

The Veteran's hip and shoulder disabilities are being remanded for additional evaluations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee disabilities have been partially granted. The 20 percent ratings for right and left knee meniscal tears and degenerative arthritis are restored, but the Veteran's requests for higher evaluations remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for several reasons, including the need to obtain updated VA treatment records and employment information. Additionally, updated examinations are required for his other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 20, 2014 for the award of service connection for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, degenerative arthritis, and bilateral callosities is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as sleep apnea and COPD).,The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, degenerative arthritis, and bilateral callosities, and for a rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his period of active service.,Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus and a neurological disability (claimed as 'nerves').

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion and left knee instability due to lack of recent VA treatment records and need for additional retrospective opinions.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion or instability. The Veteran's headaches do not meet criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric condition and a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for further medical development as the VA examination did not provide sufficient information regarding where pain begins during range of motion testing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent evaluation is the maximum available.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied because it does not meet VA compensation criteria.,A TDIU award is granted based on service-connected disabilities preventing substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for schizophrenia remains remanded due to potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions.,Claims for higher ratings for right rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are also remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and metatarsalgia remain remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, internal hemorrhoids, right colon adenoma, umbilical hernia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.,The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied service connection for a right colon adenoma is also remanded.,Service connection claims for an umbilical hernia secondary to the right colon adenoma and diabetes mellitus remain remanded.,Claims for service connection for heart disability, including hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and special monthly compensation has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with the claims as he is deceased.