Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is found to be related to his service-connected hypothyroidism.,Bilateral hip avascular necrosis and osteopenia are both determined to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pituitary adenoma.

The Veteran's appeal for reducing his disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for left leg and ankle issues has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis and an initial compensable rating for a vertebral fracture due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues are related as they both involve the Veteran's service-connected vertebral fracture.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, tinnitus associated with TBI, and headaches related to TBI, are not considered sufficient to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and new theories of entitlement raised by the Veteran. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that his current left ankle disorders were proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis, diabetes mellitus type II, or psoriatic arthritis of the right knee.

A 20 percent rating for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (back disability) is granted from August 28, 2017 to July 5, 2022.,Prior to August 28, 2017, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected back disability is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent from July 5, 2022, for service-connected back disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities, finding that they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and complete VA forms related to employment information.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine and scoliosis disabilities are related to his military service, and if a right knee strain is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to August 16, 2019. The case is being remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating prior to November 29, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, status post distal clavicle resection with dislocation. The claims are also remanded for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 15, 2019, and after November 1, 2019.

The Veteran's jaw, elbow, hand, hip, knee, and shoulder disorders are found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability with degenerative arthritis, right shoulder disability with degenerative arthritis and labral tear and tendinopathy, and right knee disability with degenerative arthritis have been granted service connection.,The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for PTSD prior to December 23, 2019 is granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD after December 23, 2019 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right elbow, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during active duty or related to in-service injuries.,Service connection was also denied for left hip, right hip, right knee, and left foot disabilities due to lack of a causal relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions are not adequate to decide the claims and has ordered additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and requesting an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his range of motion was limited to 55 degrees flexion and zero degrees extension without ankylosis or other severe impairment.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment and income.