Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to insufficient discussion in the June 2021 decision regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee strain with degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopy, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.,The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no persuasive weight of evidence to support these claims.,The Board noted that while the Veteran reported in-service back pain and knee conditions, post-service medical records did not show development of these conditions within a year after service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine from May 18, 2016 is being remanded due to incomplete development. The RO must obtain authorization and request private treatment records.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome), have been granted service connection. A 40 percent rating has been assigned for the low back disability prior to September 3, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated income information and medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Appellant needs aid and attendance or is housebound.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities due to new in-service treatment records and a need for an opinion on whether his current conditions are related to military service, including a reported motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons and bases for its estimated loss of degrees of range of motion during flare-ups for the period prior to March 22, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, finding it related to an in-service fall and head injury. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis is also considered directly related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, which is secondary to his service-connected varicose veins, has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received prior to transfer of the appeal to the Board, which relates to the severity of retrolisthesis and includes a note about the Veteran wearing a brace for it.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased disability rating for PTSD and service connection for a left-hand disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative arthritis. The RO needs to conduct additional development and readjudicate these issues.

The Veteran's right ankle osteochondral defect with degenerative arthritis was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from May 8, 2009 to October 30, 2013 and a maximum 20 percent rating thereafter. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted an initial rating of 40 percent effective September 28, 2013.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity were found to be service connected as a result of his lumbosacral strain. The TDIU claim was granted effective September 28, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and low back strain are currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, back disability, heart related disability, spot on lungs, and right upper extremity condition due to missing service records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to January 19, 2011. The evidence does not substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his work experience, skills, vocational training, and educational background from January 30, 2009 to October 6, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.