Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia, status post complex tear of the lateral meniscus, based on limitation of flexion and extension, or for instability. He also did not meet the criteria for separate ratings for meniscal pathology or instability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination results and requests for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for rating purposes, and requests additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral spine condition has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent and greater than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine due to inadequate development.

Your claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders have been fully granted in a September 2020 rating decision, effective December 31, 2012. Your appeals are dismissed as the benefits sought on appeal have already been granted.

The Board has found that further development is necessary and the case is remanded to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's knee conditions, including left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as De Quervain's tenosynovitis of the left wrist, are all on appeal for increased ratings. Additionally, there is a claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than May 21, 2012 for left great toe neuropathy and left lower extremity sciatica have been denied as the effective date is based on the date of receipt of the claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine DDD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatica, and a lumbar scar received August 31, 2011 have been denied as there are no earlier unaddressed filings or communications that would warrant an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left ear hearing loss and left shoulder degenerative arthritis with scar are denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the lower and upper extremities. The remand requires a VA examination to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from September 20, 2017. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to be at a high risk of falling due to numbness in his hands and feet.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder supraspinatus tear, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as alcohol abuse disability and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.,Reasoning: The medical evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2016 VA examination and a need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for chronic neck pain, finding no evidence of a disease or injury during active duty or qualifying periods of reserve service. The Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to any in-service event and is considered a result of normal aging.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from June 22, 2015 to August 9, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. For the earlier period, he did not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's initial claim for a low back disability was denied, and her subsequent increased rating claims were also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent or 40 percent from October 24, 2016 to September 28, 2017, and from September 29, 2017 respectively.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis with recurrent patellar dislocation, is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating. The Board denied an increased rating beyond this level.

The Veteran's right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent prior to February 18, 2020 and denied for a higher rating. The Veteran's left knee chronic synovitis and degenerative joint disease, right knee chronic synovitis and degenerative joint disease, and bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus are all currently rated at 10 percent prior to February 18, 2020 and denied for higher ratings.,From February 18, 2020, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus is rated at 30 percent and denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her lumbar spine disability and service connection for fibromyalgia are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions regarding functional loss and a specific opinion on whether the Veteran's symptomatology is related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.