Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective January 30, 2014. The RO also granted increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The conditions are found to be related to in-service occurrences.

The Veteran's disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS were denied, with a rating of 40% assigned as of July 6, 2020. The left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and chondromalacia was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings remain pending as the Board has not granted all of his requested increases. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a neck disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The evidence does not support a link between any current disorders and his military service.,There is no medical opinion linking either condition to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted. However, the claim for service connection itself remains denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for COPD with asbestosis prior to June 23, 2014, is denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,Service connection for TBI or residuals of TBI and dizziness or peripheral vestibular disorder are both denied.

Compensation for diplopia granted under 38 U.S.C. § 1151. Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to May 20, 2020 and at 70 percent thereafter. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.,For the period from May 20, 2020 onward, the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis with shin splints is granted a 30 percent rating for limitation of flexion. The issue of an initial compensable evaluation for extension remains denied, and the left knee disability is granted a separate 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee scars was granted. The claims for service connection of a left knee disorder and tinnitus were remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, osteoarthritis with a meniscal tear, is caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The cervical spine and left ankle disabilities are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are not related to service, and therefore, denied both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, as well as his claim for TDIU due to lack of proper examinations. The AOJ is instructed to schedule new VA examinations and consider all evidence added since the August 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the right ring finger conditions are not rated higher.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis, finding that it was caused by wear and tear during active duty service. The decision is based on a private medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities, including TKA, have been denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability was not caused by or related to any in-service injury or disease, nor were the left and right knee disabilities linked to it. The VA examinations did not find a nexus between the Veteran's current back pain and service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion and incomplete private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded by the Board.,The Veteran is also facing a TDIU claim, which has been remanded as well.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and DM are granted as service-connected, with the right shoulder condition attributed to an inservice injury and DM presumed due to herbicide exposure in Korea.