Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability prior to July 21, 2014. An addendum VA opinion is needed to estimate the degree of range of motion loss during flare-ups or repetitive use over time.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. GERD, sleep apnea, and breathing disorder were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render her unemployable, and she was employed on a full-time basis prior to January 3, 2016. Effective January 4, 2016, the Veteran is granted SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to incomplete information.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal, leaving only the issue of entitlement to TDIU in appellate status. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder and left foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis. The low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee disorders (right and left), and bilateral ankle disorders (left and right). The conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the spine, which he contends are related to an in-service injury during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and post traumatic degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, as well as service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left shoulder osteoarthritis, as well as right and left tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, with a speech recognition score of 76% in the right ear and 78% in the left ear. The Board found that this did not warrant a compensable rating.,Left hip degenerative arthritis with residuals of left femur fracture was rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's range of motion allowed for abduction to at least 30 degrees, adduction to at least 20 degrees, external rotation to at least 40 degrees, internal rotation to 25 degrees, and crossing his legs. The Board found that this did not warrant a higher rating.,Left hip limitation of flexion was rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's range of motion allowed for greater than 45 degrees of flexion. The Board found that this did not warrant a compensable rating.,Hemorrhoids were rated as noncompensable, with mild or moderate severity and no large or thrombotic features.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the May 2022 VA examination report. The Veteran is seeking service connection for arthritic disabilities and non-arthritic cold weather residuals, including frostnip.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in a prior VA examination. The case is being sent back for further evaluation.

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis, is related to a hard landing during a parachute jump in service. The Board finds sufficient evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service, granting service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the right glenohumeral joint (right shoulder), was incurred during active duty for training and is now granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a neck disorder, a back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to service.,Service connection was also denied for all four issues due to lack of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service.