Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current low back disability and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The VA will also obtain updated treatment records, conduct TERA examinations, and schedule further examinations as needed.

The Veteran's right and left knee lateral instability disorders are now rated as 20 percent disabling for the duration of the appeal.

The Veteran withdrew their claims for various disabilities, including patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the right knee, right knee instability, left knee disability, skin condition, and back injury. As a result, these appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's right and left feet were rated at 10% initially, but the Board has determined that they more closely align with a severe foot injury warranting an initial 30% rating.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 9, 2018.

The Veteran's current left hand disability, including a fracture of the second metacarpal with arthritis, is related to an in-service injury and has been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the shoulders and cervical spine DDD are remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is inextricably intertwined with the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to October 28, 2019 is dismissed. The Board has remanded issues regarding ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues related to his cervical spine disability and OSA. Service connection for the cervical spine disability remains on appeal, as does a request for an increased rating. The service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD also needs further evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left knee strain. The right shoulder disorder claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no medical relationship between his current back condition and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to February 17, 2023, and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis is rated at 30 percent from March 3, 2023, to April 14, 2023, and denied for a higher rating. After this date, the condition remains rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral knee instability is rated at 20 percent prior to March 3, 2023, and denied for a higher rating.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee patellar instability from January 1, 2020 to January 26, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and experiences.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee tendinitis with osteoarthritis and a compensable rating for left knee tendinitis with limitation of extension due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand directives, specifically regarding an addendum opinion on the Veteran's right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities and a left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding obtaining potentially relevant records concerning his claim for disability/retirement benefits held by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is reopened, but the issue of whether his current disabilities are related to military service remains pending and requires further examination.