Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right foot degenerative arthritis, and left foot disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. Service connection was granted for PVD of the RLE and LLE as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis, limitation of extension, are granted at a 50% rating. Separate ratings of 10% for each knee for limitation of flexion and 10% for instability are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical evidence in the December 2016 VA examination, specifically regarding the Veteran's functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for her degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from August 23, 2013 to October 6, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disorders due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The case is being returned to the VA for additional evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to changes in his disability status since previous examinations. He will need to undergo VA examinations for these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and updated treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have persisted since then. The condition is considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left foot, and left hand disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional records and provide a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board also remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and left hip disability.

The Veteran's right hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain status post total knee replacement (claimed as leg condition), and cervical spine DDD with spinal stenosis and IVDS are all being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues with his other pending claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 7, 2015 for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The decision found that no earlier effective date was warranted as the Veteran did not have a pending claim prior to his October 7, 2015 request to reopen.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for his service-connected back disabilities (degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis of the cervical spine) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the General Rating Formula or the IVDS Rating Formula.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low-back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, IVDS and degenerative arthritis, is service-connected as it was incurred during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records, which are needed to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hand, left knee, and right knee conditions due to incomplete service records and inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the nature and severity of his conditions, as well as potential effects of medications on his functioning.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left wrist disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability, is remanded due to the need for an adequate medical opinion addressing all theories of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated opinion regarding its etiology. The respiratory disability case is also being remanded for further addendum opinions.,The Board has determined that more development is needed in both cases, including obtaining additional medical records and providing new opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder and respiratory condition.