Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated as 20 percent prior to October 24, 2017 and denied a higher rating.,For the period from October 24, 2017, the Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his claims, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a right shoulder disorder, a left shoulder disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, a left knee disorder, a right ankle disorder, a left ankle disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis with DDD.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,An initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left wrist tendon laceration is granted, effective from September 11, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome. The decision is based on a positive nexus opinion provided by the Veteran's private treating physician.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various foot and neck disabilities, as well as a claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD. The Veteran's death during the appeal process resulted in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, status post herniated disc surgery was denied. Service connection claims for left shoulder condition (osteoarthritis), right shoulder condition (osteoarthritis), right knee condition (osteoarthritis), and left knee condition (osteoarthritis with history of total left knee replacement) were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left thigh disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing whether the Veteran's back disorder is related to his military service. The case will be returned for further review and an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis.

Service connection for bilateral knee and hip osteoarthritis is granted.,The Veteran's neck disability is remanded to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected right ankle, bilateral knee, or bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease is granted. The claim for a skin condition of the bilateral hands is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the back, and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her VA treatment records, as well as requests for private medical records. The initial rating for LUE nerve disability remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased rating of service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar DJD due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between her current condition and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, mild hypertrophic facet arthrosis of the lower lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 8, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee, with chondromalacia, was denied. A separate 20 percent rating was granted for a right knee disability with cartilage dislocated and episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to service and if his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.