Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to determine the severity of his service-connected back and neck disabilities, including whether there is evidence of functional ankylosis during flare-ups.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and diabetes mellitus type 2.,Service connection is denied for osteoarthritis of the left hand, osteoarthritis of the right hand, and ventral hernia.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a 10% evaluation, effective from May 27, 2021. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee is granted a 20% evaluation, effective from October 6, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. She also requires aid and attendance due to her service-connected conditions, resulting in SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right hip disorder, including sacroiliitis and osteoarthritis, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the inguinal hernia is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service fall and current condition. The Board also noted that the disability did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disability, including osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his in-service injury. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have continuous complaints related to his lumbar spine after service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury and osteoarthritis of the lower back have been granted. The effective date for these grants is June 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with panic disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 7, 2017. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a retrospective opinion on functional loss of his lumbar spine.

Service connection for benign essential tremors is granted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and tinnitus is also granted. However, service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition remains pending as further examination is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the presumptive period, and concluding that the current back conditions are more likely due to normal aging rather than an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is not related to service and cannot be considered secondary to a service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders and neck, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability.,Both the bilateral shoulder condition and neck condition are considered 'direct' service connection cases, meaning they were not caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability due to uncertainty regarding functional ankylosis and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hip osteoarthritis due to incomplete development and failure to provide a statement of reasons and bases. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his right and left hip osteoarthritis (secondary to knee conditions), are related to service. However, due to a duty-to-assist error, the claims must be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and for diabetic neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease during or within one year after service, and concluded that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has not been established for a left shoulder disorder.