Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for various conditions, including shoulder and knee issues and eyelid problems. The claims were dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stressor related disorder (claimed as a mental condition) secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder is dismissed due to the grant of service connection for depressive disorder in a previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal fusion, finding that his pre-existing Scheuermann's disease was aggravated by service. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including his claimed injuries during service and wear and tear from physical activities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, right hip, and right knee disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after these examinations.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service, as well as no causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and entitlement to TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examination provided. The Veteran needs to provide updated treatment records, undergo a VA examination, and have their service-connected conditions evaluated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as he has maintained and is capable of maintaining such employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination reports and further development is required.

The Veteran's left acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, status post total left shoulder arthroplasty, is granted as service connected. The right shoulder disability issue is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases of right and left knee osteoarthritis for further development due to inadequate examination in July 2019.

The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are all found to be service-connected.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's diagnosed conditions based on their direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran requested their withdrawal prior to a Board decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes osteoarthritis and a torn ACL, has not been found to warrant a higher rating than the current 30 percent assigned since it does not meet the criteria for extension limited to more than 15 degrees or flexion limited to less than 15 degrees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability, a compensable rating for right ankle scars, and TDIU prior to August 16, 2018. The decision was based on the evidence showing moderate limitation of motion with no instability or pain.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year of service, and that any current symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability during flare-ups in 2016.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to acoustic trauma.,Service connection for low back degenerative arthritis is granted as the condition began during active service and has been continuous since separation.

The Veteran's left hip DJD status-post total hip replacement is granted a 50% disability rating, effective from November 1, 2012. Other claims are denied or remanded.