Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, TBI, and tinnitus. The effective date for hypertension was set at April 12, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied. The appeal for service connection of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from an orthopedist regarding whether his low back disability is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability should be remanded due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay contentions regarding his symptoms and aggravation by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral syndrome are rated at 10 percent each, effective April 16, 2021. The Veteran is denied higher ratings for these conditions.,Diabetes mellitus secondary to service-connected back and knee disabilities remains under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected knee disabilities, including evaluations and compensation for total arthroplasty of the left and right knees, as well as meniscal tears. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly address these claims.,The Veteran was previously granted certain ratings for his knee conditions but now seeks further evaluation or compensation based on ongoing symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to September 15, 2015. The claim is now pending for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions and records to address service connection claims, rating determinations, and other issues. The Board will consider the evidence and make a decision on these matters.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and disability ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip disability, finding that his current condition did not manifest during or within one year after active duty and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder disability was denied in August 2019. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at May 5, 2021, as the Veteran did not continuously pursue his initial claim within one year after the August 2019 decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disease L4-L5 is being remanded due to a need for updated examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not service-connected, and his thoracolumbar spine disability remains at a 40% evaluation. The right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with the thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding flare-ups and knee instability. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of right knee disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sleep apnea, left foot sprain, left ankle disability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS and scoliosis is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on the frequency and duration of incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches and bilateral eye condition, are denied as there is no objective evidence of current disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.