Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide releases for non-VA care providers and obtain any relevant records from VA.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion. The Veteran's MOS as an indirect fire infantryman may have contributed to his current knee conditions.

The Veteran's aching of muscles, bones, and joints are being remanded for further evaluation due to the presence of multiple joint pain (polyarthralgia) with associated muscular pain generalized distribution and bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary as there is a plausible nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need to obtain a death certificate or other credible/official information confirming the Veteran's passing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain, finding that his symptoms were not related to his military service and attributing them to diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD with a link to an in-service stressor.,An initial rating of 60 percent from June 20, 2006 to February 25, 2011 for right hip severe degenerative arthritis was granted. The disability had significant pain and weakness, limiting the Veteran's ability to perform basic activities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left knee ACL tear with patellofemoral pain syndrome from November 10, 2016 are being remanded due to a lack of compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by abdominal discomfort and diarrhea is granted. Ratings of 20 percent are assigned for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee instability, and right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal for osteoarthritis and sleep apnea has been dismissed as he opted into the modernized appeals system (AMA). The Board lacks jurisdiction under the legacy system.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current condition and his period of service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted due to in equipoise evidence supporting its relationship with service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine and knee disabilities received the lowest possible rating, while lichen planus was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including an in-service injury while lifting weights.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and for entitlement to TDIU due to her service-connected disability. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and completing VA forms.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for inflammatory polyarthritis, secondary to his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder (also claimed as IBS), has also been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and osteoarthritis in the left great toe. The stomach disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence of direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right index finger degenerative arthritis, right middle finger degenerative arthritis, and right thumb degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right sciatic radiculopathy, left knee degenerative arthritis, and major depressive disorder are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for TDIU. The Board found that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between the claimed conditions and service or any other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.