Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right knee bursitis status post mycobacterium infection. The other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disability was granted. Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis secondary to left knee baker's cyst is also granted. However, the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his left knee baker's cyst remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were granted. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities, as well as bilateral hip replacement. The Veteran's right upper extremity and lower extremity radiculopathies are also found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and chondromalacia, is related to in-service injuries. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder conditions, as well as his DDD of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, are all granted service connection based on their relationship to his service-connected right paravertebral muscles myositis, trapezius and rhomboid.

The claims for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis have been dismissed.,A new claim for service connection for a heart condition, including coronary artery disease with triple bypass and stents, has been granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to the nature of these claims as freestanding and not related to the initial grant of service connection.

The Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral feet, low back pain, right knee pain, osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss were all granted service connection as they are considered direct service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on their onset during periods of active duty.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected back and knee disabilities was denied. The rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and compression fractures of T8-T10, status post lumbar fusion is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. Ratings for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities are granted at 40 percent. Ratings for left knee strain with limitation of flexion and right knee status-post operative torn meniscus (limitation of extension) are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's painful scars of the right knee and posterior trunk are rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected left knee disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back condition due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his ongoing pain since service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining issues.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding her claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, undergo VA examinations, and have their claims re-evaluated.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left hip conditions, as they are related to service-connected knee disabilities. The VA will conduct an examination to determine if the Veteran's current hip conditions are caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including any arthritis, is related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral wrist disability and left foot disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.