Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for broken and chipped teeth, a broken upper and lower jaw, a fractured and broken nose, and fractures of the bilateral hands have been dismissed.,Service connection for a low back disorder was denied as it is not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder and orthopedic disabilities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU on schedular basis as he meets the criteria for one disability rated 60% or more and at least one disability rated at 40% or more with sufficient additional disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of flexion due to degenerative arthritis, strain, and patellar tendinopathy with hyperextension/genu recurvatum of the right knee from January 19, 2022, and a separate 10 percent rating has been granted for instability in the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left knee disability due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to non-compliance with previous remands and potential issues in communication.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his combined service-connected disability rating does not meet the schedular or extraschedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board found that her symptoms most closely approximated the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and left great toe osteoarthritis have been remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran also has a pending evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon regarding a total right knee replacement, which should be obtained.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and development are not in compliance with the prior remand directives. The claims for increased ratings will be addressed again to obtain a medical opinion compliant with the holding in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right leg sciatica, left leg sciatica, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left wrist, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the condition and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities, considering the ameliorative effects of medication and any prior surgeries.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS was granted a 40 percent evaluation from May 12, 2009 to January 15, 2021. From January 15, 2021 on, an evaluation in excess of 40 percent is denied.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hip disability and undiagnosed illness manifested by bilateral elbow joint pain.,The skin condition remains under review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine osteoarthritis do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining new examinations and providing adequate notice of requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis but remanded the issues of pressure and sensitivity at the back/head and neck/shoulder pain.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20% from June 14, 2022. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip and knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of certain lay evidence and a need for an independent medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain and left knee degenerative arthritis due to additional development being required, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and an addendum medical opinion from a VA examiner.