Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial for service connection for cervical spine, hip, and shoulder arthritis is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracic and lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, status post-patellar replacement with surgical scars is remanded due to discrepancies regarding the current severity and extent of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and will need to obtain additional treatment information before making a decision on service connection for back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes in relation to his claimed conditions, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis status post right knee arthroplasty as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for gastrointestinal condition other than IBS with diverticulosis and resection of large intestine associated with H. Pylori infection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a recent VA examination, as well as the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on January 1, 2014 at Central Peninsula Hospital and North Star Medical Imaging is denied because the treatment was not provided in an emergency department, did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1725, and there were no service-connected disabilities or medical emergencies that necessitated the private hospital care.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as his claim for increased ratings. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, effective January 15, 2014. The Board granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the period from November 14, 2019, forward. However, TDIU was denied due to lack of evidence showing he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left arm disability, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current condition and his military service or a service-connected scar. The Board concluded that the Veteran's arthritis is due to normal wear and tear rather than any incident in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, effective from April 28, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder and bicep conditions as secondary to his service-connected right thigh shell fragment wound residuals, but denied service connection for his lumbar spine condition as secondary to his service-connected right thigh condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as she is already in receipt of a combined 100% rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's disability ratings for right and left knee instability, as well as his right and left knee disabilities, have been restored to their previous levels effective August 1, 2021. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for these conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's headaches are not service-connected, as they are considered a symptom of his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection is granted for moderate restrictive ventilation disorder (previously characterized as breathing problems), low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome have been rated at 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The VA has denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine if any current back disorders are proximately due or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee disability, and whether they have been aggravated by it.