Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left hip, and left shoulder conditions have been granted. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine condition has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and ilio-tibial band syndrome of the left knee have been dismissed as the Veteran's representative has withdrawn from appellate review.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and meniscus tears, are rated at the maximum available under current VA regulations. The appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease with left radiculopathy of the lumbar spine are granted as service connected. The issue of a cervical strain with radiculopathy (claimed as a neck condition) is remanded, and the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the knees and ankles have been granted. The claim for asbestosis has been denied.,Service connection is now established for CHF.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions on functional loss.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted based on his testimony of worsening symptoms since his last VA examination. The case is being remanded to schedule a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence collection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current degenerative arthritis was not present during or within one year after service and is unrelated to any in-service event.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied, and his claim for a 10 percent evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy from October 1, 2010, was granted. The decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a failure to schedule VA examinations as directed in previous remands. The Veteran is advised that if a VA examination is scheduled, a failure to report may result in denial of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been granted. The rating for the lumbosacral strain has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The rating for allergic rhinitis is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes, as his flexion was limited to no worse than 60 degrees and extension to no worse than 10 degrees.

The Veteran's right foot disability, which includes a fracture to mid-shaft area of the second metatarsal and degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 20 percent since June 12, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete employment history records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's work-related functional limitations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no medical evidence establishing a direct or secondary relationship between the condition and his service-connected psychiatric disorder with traumatic brain injury.,For the period prior to December 16, 2020, the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was rated at 10 percent. The claim for an increased rating beyond this level was denied as there is no evidence showing that his condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during service.