Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no evidence of a separate and distinct diagnosis.,Service connection for right knee disorder, including as due to a service-connected disability or medications taken for a service-connected disability, is also denied. The examiner found that the current right knee condition is not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of initial and non-initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as a non-initial rating for spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions and missing information in the VA examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for right elbow rheumatoid arthritis and tendinopathy, bilateral hip osteoarthritis and tendonitis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis and tendonitis. These conditions are found to be etiologically related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including lumbar degenerative arthritis, lumbar disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar radiculopathy, to include on a secondary basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left knee arthritis due to incomplete development and need for new medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that his current condition is related to a 1971 injury during active duty and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and disability rating determinations. The Veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent, as forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis have been rated at 20 percent since December 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level, which is required for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to February 11, 2014. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU on a schedular and extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and dismissed the appeal for an increased disability rating for chronic gastroenteritis, gastritis, and ulcers from December 19, 2014 due to a full grant of benefits in November 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left knee osteoarthritis as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the symptoms did not manifest during service. The Veteran's current knee conditions are found to have onset after service.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective May 2, 2016. The Veteran's back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting VA examination findings and insufficient information for ratings purposes. The Veteran's right knee conditions need further clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for mild instability from December 27, 2016 to January 30, 2019 and for moderate instability starting from January 30, 2019.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with degenerative arthritis is rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for limited motion of the ankle. The evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.,The Veteran's right hip arthritis, limitation of flexion is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left hip arthritis, painful adduction with limited rotation and abduction is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ankle disability was denied as he failed to report for necessary VA examinations without providing good cause.