Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The claim of service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to bilateral flatfoot with degenerative arthritis is granted. The issue of joint pain (undiagnosed illness) needs further evaluation, including consideration of upper extremity disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and generalized arthritis due to potential issues with causation or aggravation by a service-connected condition, as well as incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip femoral neck stress fracture and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional information from VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's neck disorder, to include degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, is currently rated at 30 percent for the period beginning November 14, 2017.,An earlier effective date of July 10, 2008, has been granted for the award of service connection and a 20 percent evaluation for the neck disorder.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including hypertension, right wrist sprain, left wrist sprain, and left knee strain. As a result, there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the back with intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 40 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) are both currently rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's initial rating for left shoulder disability with degenerative arthritis is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for MDD with generalized anxiety disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20% rating for cervical spine injury with traumatic degenerative arthritis from August 23, 2019 is granted. The claims for higher ratings and service connection are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. Initial ratings of 10 percent have been assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve). The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine remains at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, including lack of medical records from service and a VA opinion on the etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at the highest schedular evaluation available, and a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected disabilities (bilateral pes planus and left knee strain).,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.,Service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has found that the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and has ordered further development for obtaining deck logs from the USS Samuel Gompers during the summer of 1973.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran is currently denied an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss, with a noncompensable evaluation assigned.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. A separate rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted. The TDIU claim has been added to this appeal and requires additional development.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 15, 2012, and at 20 percent thereafter. From November 20, 2015, the Veteran received a separate rating of 10 percent for limitation of extension in his right knee. The left knee disability remained at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to outstanding private treatment records, a newly raised theory of claim regarding open burning of documents, and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to June 6, 2019 do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an orthopedist to address whether the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is related to service or his service-connected right hip DJD.