Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is granted. The claims for a left knee disability and a left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including those related to the left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and aggravation of existing conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions to estimate the amount of range of motion lost due to pain in both weightbearing and non-weight bearing positions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis is related to service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to discrepancies in the record and need for further clarification regarding the Veteran's ability to obtain suitable employment with his additional service-connected disabilities. The VRC is instructed to provide a supplemental opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's left hip and left ankle disabilities are related to service, including considering whether they may be due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, but the issues of service connection for headaches (migraines), stomach disorder, and right toenail disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that her current degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the left knee is related to her military service. The decision resolves in favor of the Veteran due to the benefit-of-the-doubt rule.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for an effective date of February 28, 2006 for service connection for lumbar spine disability and TDIU, DEA eligibility, and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, but the issue of service connection for hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar is granted.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability is set at January 21, 2011. The earlier requested effective date is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and knee conditions are granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, and a breathing problem have been dismissed as there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including arthritis of the right great toe with plantar and heel spurs, was rated at a 10 percent prior to June 30, 2014. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for this period. Separate ratings were remanded for the back disability and degenerative arthritis of the right great toe.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability (cervical spine) and a low back disability (lumbar spine), finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders is granted, with the effective date being subject to rules governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by his statements of in-service injury and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for bilateral knee disorders, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a gallbladder condition was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal at a Board hearing. The appeals for low back degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right foot disability, and stomach and/or pancreas condition are remanded.