Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to issues related to service connection and increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was granted. The Veteran's tinea pedis bilateral feet with onychomycosis and erythema annulare was increased to a 10 percent rating, effective April 7, 2017. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were not increased in rating.

PTSD was granted as a new finding based on new and material evidence. Residuals related to a head injury, low back condition, and right hand osteoarthritis were denied.,Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for posttraumatic osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, and back strain have been denied as there is no current disability. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been granted as presumptively related to exposure to burn pits during active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to functional limitations, but additional compensation under SMC(r)(1) or SMC(r)(2) is precluded as he does not meet the threshold requirement for consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis, left and right lower extremity neuropathy, erectile dysfunction (ED), right hip disability, bilateral onychomycosis, and migraine headaches have all been denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis and residuals from meniscectomy, left knee strain post patellar realignment, and GERD with IBS have been granted initial 20 percent ratings effective since the date of service discharge.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not meet VA criteria for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disabilities, including cervical spine arthritis, right hand and finger arthritis, left hand and finger arthritis, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.,The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be examined by an orthopedic specialist, specifically one who specializes in the spine. The examination should assess whether his low back disorders are related to service or due to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right shoulder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee instability have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for residuals of a cold injury and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease (claimed as left hip condition), degenerative joint disease (claimed as right hip condition), arthritis, cervical spine (claimed as neck condition), osteoarthritis (claimed as left shoulder condition), and post-surgical osteoarthritis (claimed as right shoulder condition).

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition. The issues of kidney disease (secondary to hypertension) and spinal stenosis are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right index finger laceration, including trigger finger and a scar, is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and opinions. The claim was previously denied in August 2016 but reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the loss of use of one or both lower extremities, nor does he require regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.,The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran requires regular aid and assistance from another person for daily living activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting left foot disability was aggravated by service. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's lay reports of limping upon entry into military service and provide a clear and unmistakable opinion on this matter.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right leg and knee disorders, specifically his livedo reticularis and right knee osteoarthritis. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.