Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis was granted. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Right knee osteoarthritis is found to be related to the Veteran's military service, with frequent stooping, squatting, kneeling, and climbing ladders being contributory factors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with VA examinations for his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for her low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hand osteoarthritis and left knee disorder are granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence is at least as likely as not that her back disorder had its onset during service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to her service-connected bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps are related to his current condition. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative changes of the lower thoracic spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left rotator cuff degenerative joint disease with impingement, left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia, and right knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is dismissed. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and the issues of service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral nerve disorders, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and muscle and joint pain are remanded.

The Board denied an effective date prior to October 5, 2004, for the award of a TDIU (Total Disability Rating Independent of Service Connection) due to lack of formal or informal claim for increased rating and/or TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of TBI is granted.,An increased rating to 10 percent for hypertension is granted prior to August 10, 2016. A higher rating is denied beginning from that date.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 40 percent from September 26, 2012 to December 20, 2022.,A higher evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability from December 20, 2022 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to a back injury sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with IVDS is currently rated at 40 percent since November 9, 2020. The Board denied higher ratings for the period prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee osteoarthritis as they are not in compliance with previous orders. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for a VA examination to address deficiencies noted in prior decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service and manifested within one year of separation.,Service connection was denied for a lumbar spine disorder due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current sleep apnea claim was also denied as there was no diagnosis found in the medical records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for back conditions is granted. The Board finds that the evidence received since the January 1985 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and thus grants the petition. However, the case is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current back conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities due to issues with previous examinations and a need for new evidence.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's sclerosis of the left sacroiliac joint disability, but has remanded issues related to fecal and urinary incontinence as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the pre-amended or amended VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and a bilateral foot disability to include metatarsalgia due to outstanding medical opinions and additional evidence.