Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and right knee osteoarthritis, finding an approximate balance of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are related to service, granting their claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from January 15, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU effective February 6, 2010.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from November 7, 2022. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability and sciatic nerve condition due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. Further examination is required.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis of right knee, right hip, and back. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, SSA records, and private treatment records as well as an addendum VA opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and a bowel disorder claimed as IBS due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service, and the failure to show onset during or related to service. The Board also denied service connection for an IBS disorder because there is no current diagnosis of IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PFB, right knee PFS, and left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis have been granted. The conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted, while the claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right hand disorder is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, low back disability other than lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, and stomach disability other than chronic constipation and hemorrhoids.,There is no evidence of record showing that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and scars have been remanded due to substantial worsening of symptoms. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current extent and severity of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his disabilities of the low back, left knee, and right knee due to medical questions remaining and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the claim for nonservice-connected pension from July 8, 2019 and after as moot due to the Veteran's service-connected disability rating. The claim is remanded for additional development regarding pension prior to July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish an in-service stressor related to posttraumatic stress disorder, and denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 26, 2021 and thereafter for right knee instability, and entitlement to a compensable rating for right knee limitation of extension. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis and patellar spur was remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent prior to July 1, 2017. Specifically, attempts should be made to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records dated since November 2017 and an additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities, including a request for increased ratings and whether new evidence supports reopening a right ankle fracture claim. The VA will conduct examinations to assess current disability levels and provide an SOC on the reopened issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran and his representative will be provided an additional SSOC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of chronic condition in service or continuity of symptoms since service. The Veteran's neck pain was first noted years after service and not related to his in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided, specifically regarding the severity and functional loss of the Veteran's coccyx fracture residuals with lumbar spine conditions. The VA examiner is requested to provide additional information on these matters.