Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment for the specified periods, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and there is no reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability (other than strain) is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions. The Board will obtain relevant treatment records, arrange for an examination, and consider whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, endometriosis, and hysterectomy disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service events or exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, osteoarthritis of the right hip, and degenerative joint disease of the left hip. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability, which was previously rated at 30 percent, is denied as the evidence does not show that he has symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability has been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Board has dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically left and right knee chondromalacia with patellofemoral osteoarthritis, have been granted a 20 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis was granted a rating of 40% prior to February 22, 2018, between February 22, 2018 and February 9, 2022, and since February 10, 2022.

The Veteran's right knee condition is currently rated at 20% and left knee condition at 10%. The appeals for increased ratings are REMANDED.,Eligibility for automobile or adaptive equipment was denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or severe burn injury.

The Veteran's right knee osteochondroma, meniscal tear, and joint osteoarthritis are rated at a 20 percent evaluation for the entire appellate period.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, status post left hip replacement, as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic or on-going medical condition associated with and/or aggravated by his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine and his service-connected scar, gunshot wound to the abdomen, right side lateral chest wall.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits prior to December 9, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is granted a schedular TDIU effective July 18, 2016. The Board also referred the claim to the Director for extraschedular consideration prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconclusive evidence regarding a current diagnosis of nondegenerative arthritis and requests for an additional VA examination, updated bloodwork, if necessary, and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Thailand, and also granted service connection for osteoarthritis lumbar spine as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while his allergic rhinitis is granted a non-compensable rating prior to August 27, 2015 and a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's left ankle disability remains denied.