Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found no evidence of CFS or rheumatoid arthritis during the pendency of the claim. Service connection was granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to coronary artery disease.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since November 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that a separate rating of 10 percent is warranted for left knee instability, but the main issues are related to his left knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine disability, GERD, and right upper extremity radiculopathy were denied. The claim for service connection for asthma was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied a rating in excess of 50 percent. Ratings for left and right knee conditions are granted, but not in excess of the current assigned ratings. Service connection is established for headaches, residuals from carpal tunnel release on the right wrist, and right wrist scar.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear with glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, claimed as a left arm condition, and for left olecranon spur, claimed as a left elbow condition. The VA is required to obtain the Veteran's STRs and SPRs from his Tennessee Army National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis is aggravated by his service-connected right hip disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be provided a new VA examination to discuss whether his right leg disability (right knee osteoarthritis) is related to service, including earlier surgeries and pre-service treatment. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his back and right knee disabilities due to issues with functional loss during flare-ups and neurological manifestations, as well as inadequate range of motion measurements in a recent VA examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis is denied as his disability does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating. The claim for TDIU prior to March 21, 2015, is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions from the November 2022 VA examiner. Additional addendum opinions are needed regarding the current severity of his back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, including measurements of functional loss during flare-ups or repetitive use over time prior to December 2021.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and attempting to obtain any outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include PTSD, cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and residual scars from the procedure.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for increased ratings need to be corrected, and new examinations are required due to the passage of time since previous evaluations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and private medical records from Carney Hospital.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board dismissed all claims except for service connection for hypertension, which was granted. The Veteran's PTSD prior to December 14, 2015, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no current diagnosis or established link to service.,Right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis were also denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 31, 2009. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from January 30, 2018 onward. The Board found the evidence supports this rating based on limited forward flexion to 30 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for low back strain with degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (previously rated as radiculopathy, right lower extremity), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity of the femoral nerve are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (previously rated as radiculopathy, right lower extremity), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity of the femoral nerve are remanded.