Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which includes impingement syndrome and osteoarthritis, has not been found to warrant a higher rating due to the lack of ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing onset or relationship to service.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right lower extremity and left knee disorders, as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent from November 26, 2021. The Board denied an increased rating for the disability as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's foot condition, specifically osteoarthritis of the right first metatarsophalangeal joint and plantar fasciitis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of additional limitation in motion or other symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral foot disability, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further examination and determination of the nature and etiology of any right foot disability.

An initial 40 percent rating is granted for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, effective November 22, 2004.,A separate 40 percent rating is granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, effective May 21, 2013. The claim for a higher initial rating for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current right knee disabilities were not related to his military service. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee degenerative joint disease from the specified dates were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed hip, foot, and low back disorders as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated in service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee conditions and left hip disability, as well as whether these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee, right knee, left ankle, sleep disturbances (including sleep apnea), left shoulder osteoarthritis, PTSD, and hypothyroidism. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to in-service parachute jumps or undiagnosed illnesses/chronic multisymptom illnesses, as well as considering the impact of obesity caused by service-connected disabilities on his current symptoms.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating will be remanded so that addendum opinions can address the issues raised by the Board.

The Veteran's left ankle osteoarthritis with anterior and lateral instability has been rated at 20 percent effective February 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to issues with scheduling VA examinations in Iwakuni City, Japan. The Veteran was not properly notified of examination arrangements.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective date for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are still pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip condition, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The evidence shows that the Veteran's current left hip osteoarthritis is related to his service-connected right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases of left hip arthritis and PTSD for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing direct service connection.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for service-connected lumbar spine strain is granted prior to October 20, 2022. The claim for higher ratings and service connection are all denied.