Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition. The Veteran and his spouse claim that his conditions first manifested in service, while VA opinions suggest they developed after 2000.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to January 25, 2021.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by active-duty service. Headache disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the current schedular evaluations do not meet his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus, subcalcaneal pain, Morton's neuroma with hallux valgus, and osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes, are rated at 50 percent. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not large or thrombotic, irreducible, or causing frequent recurrences.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death from lung cancer and COPD.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD was granted. However, the claim for PTSD itself remains denied.,Service connection for left hip osteoarthritis is also denied as there is no evidence showing it occurred during or as a result of military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee osteoarthritis under DC 5257 and for left knee osteoarthritis based on painful motion due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his left knee condition, specifically related to instability and potential separate ratings for limitation of flexion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and needs further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hand osteopenia, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand disability and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis and post-traumatic degeneration of the joints as secondary to a service-connected disability was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received, thus denying the application to reopen the previously denied claim. For lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome, the Veteran's initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right hip, left knee, and right knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and somatic symptom disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome L4-L5, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis limitation of flexion, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis, limitation of flexion, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right wrist sprain. The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, eczema, left foot ring-toe condition, and sinusitis have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for joint conditions including arthritis due to a lack of an adequate etiological opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine were denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for hernia residuals with scarring was also denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for the right hip and 30 percent for the left hip.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, to include arthritis. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left shoulder strain, and psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent prior to October 28, 2021 and at 60 percent since December 1, 2022. The case is being remanded for additional development.