Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claim as moot because the Veteran's thoracolumbar disability, including a C7-T1 fusion, was granted service connection in an April 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's back condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, is granted service connection. The right hip condition remains in dispute and requires further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and failure to comply with previous remands. The Veteran's right knee conditions are being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine, lumbosacral strain and thoracic spine strain has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a stroke as secondary to service-connected right knee disorder is dismissed. The issue of service connection for a left knee disorder, including osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, and partial ACL tear, as secondary to service-connected right knee disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected. The back disability issue was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's PIP strain of the fourth finger of the left hand is granted service connection. An initial disability evaluation of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with DDD and IVDS is granted effective September 19, 2016. Separate 10 percent evaluations are granted for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy and sciatic nerve radiculopathy beginning December 1, 2019.

The Board has found that an additional VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disabilities. The appeal for service connection for a left arm condition, including bicipital tendon tear, is also remanded.

The Veteran's scoliosis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been rated at 20 percent since May 28, 2013. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate as the evidence shows a combined range of motion greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees.,The Veteran's right knee replacement has been rated at 30 percent since April 2015. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the presence of intermediate degrees of residual weakness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support a finding that his current right knee disabilities are related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, bilateral lichen simplex and chronic dermatitis, left hip osteoarthritis, left thigh limitation of extension, and left thigh limitation of flexion due to unclear functional loss associated with the service-connected conditions and the need for further VA evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability and RLE disability have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine surgery is not service connected. The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating considerations due to the Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, which the Board has granted TDIU. The issues of SMC based on housebound criteria or aid and attendance are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back syndrome with degenerative osteoarthritis due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for additional development.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis status post total arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis and degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine was denied, while his claim for lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with these conditions was granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 14, 2020, was dismissed. The Board also remanded the remaining issues related to his spine and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has requested withdrawal of his appeal.