Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine if her current conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disease, finding that symptoms began in service and have been continuous since separation.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from May 30, 2015, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied an increased rating for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not warrant a higher rating prior to May 23, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's lumbar strain was granted a 40 percent rating prior to February 15, 2022 and denied any higher rating thereafter.,The Veteran's right shoulder strain was granted a 40 percent rating. The left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis were both remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a recurrent right shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examination and missing service treatment records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The appeal is now pending for further development and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his obstructive sleep apnea. The VA needs to obtain a more detailed medical opinion on these issues.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the entire period prior to December 17, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities making it at least as likely as not that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with service connection and increased rating for left shoulder osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination addressing whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims of service connection for a sleep disability, including sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including right shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis and osteoarthritis; right knee iliotibial band syndrome; recurrent ankle sprain residuals; recurrent hamstring disability; bilateral plantar fasciitis; heel spurs; and hip degenerative arthritis. The appeal for service connection for a left hamstring disability has been withdrawn.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and a nerve disability, to include radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, bilateral knee disabilities, and hemorrhoids due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for LEFT shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with AC joint osteoarthritis, LEFT ring finger limitation of motion, and a LEFT wrist scar have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating greater than 0 percent for a RIGHT chest scar (status post cyst removal), secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, and service connection for insomnia / sleep disorder have been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD with associated anxiety has been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for deviated nasal septum from a broken nose has been denied due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition.,The Veteran's appeals for secondary service connection for insomnia / sleep disorder and erectile dysfunction have been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), alopecia, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left elbow tendonitis, neck pain, hypertension (HTN), and rhinitis were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these claims before the decision was promulgated.