Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral dry eye syndrome, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to unresolved medical issues.

The Veteran's claims for cramping of the body, chronic pain also claimed as chronic multi symptom illness and sleep disturbances/insomnia are denied as they are considered manifestations of his service-connected fibromyalgia.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left foot plantar fasciitis and right foot plantar fasciitis claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including a VA examination. The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee tendonitis was reopened, and the Board found that his left knee osteoarthritis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran needs VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left and right knee disabilities, including any functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including headaches, skin disability other than pseudofolliculitis barbae, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and left ligament sprain. The Board has determined that these issues require further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The Veteran is granted a 10% evaluation for right and left shin splints, but her claims are remanded for further development regarding other conditions.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 20 percent for the period prior to April 28, 2022 and a higher rating is denied for the period beginning on April 28, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disabilities were denied. She was granted a separate compensable rating of 20 percent under DC 5258.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine conditions. The first issue is a request for a compensable rating for his scar, right knee. The second issue is seeking an increased rating for post operative residuals of the right knee torn medial meniscus with degenerative arthritis prior to June 1, 2018 (except the temporary total period). The third issue is seeking an increased rating for post operative residuals of the right knee torn medial meniscus with degenerative arthritis as of June 1, 2018. Lastly, the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis with severe DDD at L4/5 and L5/S1 is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were dismissed or remanded as requested. The claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was granted, while the claims for hemorrhoids and chronic left ankle sprain are also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his L-3 fracture, residuals including DDD and prosthetic discs L4-5 and L5-S1, IVDS and degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 22, 2017 or 40 percent from March 22, 2017 to February 18, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his right knee osteoarthritis has been withdrawn.,The claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to COPD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar paraspinal strain, nerve damage of the left lower extremity, and somatization disorder. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of fractured right tibia are granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective June 3, 2013. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective April 26, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated lumbar radiculopathy prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation from September 20, 2012 to September 19, 2013.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome due to the Veteran's testimony suggesting worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include back spasms with painful motion. The evidence shows that the Veteran had in-service complaints of back pain and was diagnosed with sacroiliac and lumbar degenerative arthritis with bulging disc disease and retrolisthesis of L5 on S1. A medical opinion supports the finding that his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the low back is granted an increased evaluation to 40 percent prior to July 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and lumbar spine disability were denied. The Veteran was granted a 30% rating for her right shoulder condition effective September 1, 2011.