Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent them from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 5, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his military service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion, as the flexion and extension were limited to 80 degrees during flare-ups. Service connection for tinnitus was granted due to new and material evidence being received.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right wrist disorders, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional examinations are needed to address these issues.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete information in the previous examinations. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for both knees are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and low back disability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis with tendonitis is not rated higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee, post-surgical patellar fracture with residual hardware and arthritis, is also not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney requesting withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of the right foot and ankle, finding that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by amputation below the knee with a suitable prosthetic appliance. The decision is based on evidence from VA treating podiatrists who assessed the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for service connection for blurry vision and has remanded the claims of service connection for chest pain, cervical spine injury pain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and sprained 3rd digit of the right hand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and other service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his combined service-connected disabilities, which includes bilateral hearing loss (20%), tinnitus (10%), osteoarthritis of the left knee (10%), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with limited extension of right knee (10%), limited extension of left and right knees (10% each), and osteoarthritis of the left and right ankles (10%).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period on appeal prior to October 1, 2016. Therefore, TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to failure to comply with prior remand directives and issues related to VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder based on limited range of motion, left knee disability based on limitation of motion, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.

The Veteran's request for an extended temporary total rating based on convalescence for right foot disability from April 1, 2013 to August 27, 2014 was denied.,The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left facial and ear numbness and eye lid symptoms due to a VA procedure in July 2012 was denied.,The Veteran's request for an increased disability rating for his left foot disability from May 1, 2016 onward was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD prior to May 8, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's request for TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities prior to May 8, 2017 was granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a nexus between his current bilateral hearing loss and his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and back disability, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability due to incomplete development and unclear findings regarding atrophy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was reopened, and he is now granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee. His left knee disabilities are also rated as per his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective June 26, 2019.,Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's new and material evidence has reopened the claim, but service connection remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, claimed as degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis and neck condition, is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.