Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for swollen and painful joints of the feet, right shoulder disability, and a skin condition of the feet to include dyshidrosis due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran will need further VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including a rotator cuff tear and degenerative arthritis, is related to his service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are being reviewed again, with particular attention to whether they are related to her service-connected bilateral pes planus or right ankle tendonitis.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and effective dates was denied. The left knee issues were addressed, with a 10 percent rating granted for instability and a 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy issues resulted in 20 percent ratings effective January 22, 2015, but no higher ratings were granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied, as he did not meet the criteria for a combined rating of at least 60% due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that further development is needed to determine if he incurred his current shoulder and back disabilities during service. The claim for service connection of the feet remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right hip disability and his service. The VA doctor did not consider the Veteran's lay statements of continuous symptoms since service, nor clarify if more recent radiological testing was performed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, including sprain and degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of these claims. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood, left shoulder osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease are REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues of rating PTSD, left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, recurrent thrombosis of the left lower extremity deep vessels, and hypertension are all being remanded.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are found to be related to his service, specifically exposure to hazardous chemicals during deployment. Service connection is granted.,Right foot metatarsalgia is found to have been caused by an injury sustained while playing football in-service. Service connection is granted.,Left knee osteoarthritis is found to be related to a twisting injury that occurred in-service while playing football. Service connection is granted.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy in left lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or aggravation during service.,The Veteran's radiculopathy in left lower extremity is also remanded for similar reasons.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity radiculopathy prior to February 24, 2022. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of limitation of flexion or extension that would warrant a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for use of a back brace and bilateral knee braces in 2015, finding that his service-connected disabilities cause excessive wear on his clothing.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted, while her skin and left ear disabilities are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with slipped disc C5-C6 due to insufficient consideration of his lay history and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease status post compression fracture with low back strain and other related conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 12, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that his current condition is related to non-service-connected degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and diabetic neuropathy.