Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his right knee osteoarthritis did not cause or aggravate his obesity, and therefore could not be considered an intermediate step in causing his left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete service personnel records and missing SSA disability determination. The Veteran's right leg/hip disorder is still under consideration.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided are inadequate, and thus the case is being remanded to obtain addendum opinions from appropriate clinicians regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral lower extremity disorders (to include varicose veins, bilateral hip degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee strain, and left knee meniscal tear) and bilateral foot disorders (to include bilateral hammer toes, bilateral foot degenerative arthritis, bilateral calcaneal spurs, and bilateral achilles enthesopathy/achilles tendinitis).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and degenerative joint disease of the left knee have been denied. The Veteran received a 10 percent rating prior to October 21, 2015, based on limitation of motion, but her claim was not granted higher than that level.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right and left total knee replacements were also denied. She currently receives a 30 percent rating for each condition.

The Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy has been rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.,New evidence supports reopening of the Veteran's claims for left knee surgery, skin condition (folliculitis), and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for impingement syndrome of the left shoulder with slap tear and degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The right shoulder and right ankle conditions are granted service connection, but further examination is needed for other claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left wrist disability.

The Veteran's migraines are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,For his right knee disability, the Veteran is seeking an increased rating. The current rating of 10 percent does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to issues related to right sacroiliac strain and radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU effective April 23, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and for TDIU before July 16, 2012 due to inadequate VA examinations regarding functional impairment during flareups.

The Veteran's appeals for restoration of evaluations for his service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The issue of whether the reduction in evaluation was proper remains pending.

The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to November 3, 2015 and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right knee sprain is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's left knee strain is rated as 20 percent disabling prior to November 4, 2021 and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left knee instability is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran's right knee instability is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is currently rated as 40 percent disabling. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated as 20 percent disabling from November 4, 2021 and 30 percent disabling prior to that date. The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling from November 4, 2021.,The Veteran's left hip disability has been rated based on the extent of limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.,Specifically, he seeks service connection for a right hand condition and bilateral foot conditions. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening these claims.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the VA examinations for bilateral knee conditions and left ankle disability, requiring a remand to rectify prior to adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome was granted, and the effective date is set at April 7, 2021.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left hip pain, right foot pain, left foot pain, and major depressive disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that these conditions are not proximately caused by or aggravated beyond their natural progression by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various finger and thumb degenerative arthritis conditions were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS and radiculopathy right lower extremity as secondary to this condition are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, stating that the Veteran's low back disorder was less likely related to his in-service back treatment. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is reopened due to new and material evidence.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus and the evidence does not indicate a causal relationship between active duty service and the Veteran's current condition.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have current tinnitus, and thus denied service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran also sought service connection for right eye corneal abrasion but was unable to establish a nexus with his military service due to inconsistencies in his statements and clinical evidence.,Service connection for right eye corneal abrasion is denied as there is no indication of a current disability related to the alleged injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disorder and whether it is related to service or any service-connected conditions.