Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome and degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal as to whether these conditions were incurred in or caused by his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by a VA examiner. The Veteran contends that his current knee disabilities are related to his active duty service, including boot camp and marching duties.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and left knee disability have been remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether his disabilities are secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The remand is due to an inadequate etiology opinion in October 2021.

The Veteran's left leg disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's back disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar osteoarthritis and osteopenia, finding that the current GERD is proximately due to the medications used to treat his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically concerning the point at which pain begins during range of motion and during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified bipolar disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to August 13, 2019 remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal as to the claims of service connection for right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals as to the claim of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, Raynaud's disease prior to September 21, 2016, Raynaud's disease from September 21, 2016, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current condition is not related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a right eye disability incurred in service. The left knee and right knee issues remain under consideration.

The Veteran's right fifth finger disability is rated at 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, while the right upper eyelid status post cyst excision remains noncompensable.,The Veteran's service-connected right upper eyelid condition does not meet any criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The remand is due to an inadequate etiology opinion in October 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for his right hip replacement, and remanded other issues related to his hips and knees.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of various knee and ankle disabilities, tinnitus, and right little finger arthritis have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 9, 2019.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) are each rated at 20 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted a disability rating of 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis and his period of service, but determined that there was at least equipoise in favor of finding a relationship between the Veteran's tinnitus and his military service.

The appeal is dismissed for the increased rating claims of right knee osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right foot radiculopathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are remanded for further action on the remaining issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and degenerative arthritis with scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional evidence or releases for any outstanding VA records.