Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record, including lack of nexus opinions based on STRs and continuity of care after service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his military experiences are also considered.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle disability is granted at a 20 percent level. Service connection for cold injury to the hands and hematosis acid reflux indigestion (GERD) are remanded due to inadequate nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination for the Veteran's low back disability and service connection claims for psychiatric disorders, elbow, wrist, hand, and respiratory disabilities. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his low back disability and service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the left ankle, knee, and hip do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that they are not shown to be of such nature and severity as to render him unable to secure and maintain regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, internal hemorrhoids, TBI, and headaches with migraine features have been granted service connection.,An increased rating of 10 percent has been granted for the left and right knee disabilities since July 7, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral ankle disorders due to conflicting opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not provide clear evidence of chronicity of care or treatment.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, shoulder, and arm disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct or secondary evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development of the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 30 percent since April 20, 2015 and the right knee disability from April 20, 2015 to June 1, 2021 was also rated at 10 percent. On and after June 2, 2021, the right knee disability was denied a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including the residuals of a total knee replacement, is rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2019. Prior to August 14, 2018, the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus, and sinus tarsitis.,Service connection is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding all current disabilities of the Veteran's feet.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, a right knee disability, and a right foot disability. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted. The claim for service connection for a cardiac disability remains pending as the Veteran failed to appear for a VA examination.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right third finger, fifth finger, and thumb have been granted a disability rating of 10 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA medical examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability, including any additional functional loss caused by repeated use over time and flare-ups.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's back disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the back disability claim.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was denied. The initial rating prior to September 10, 2021, is still denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A rating in excess of 20 percent on or after September 10, 2021, is also denied due to lack of evidence showing forward flexion of the cervical spine at 15 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee instability and left knee strain with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral chondromalacia due to inadequate retrospective opinions regarding flare-ups and consideration of pain on both active and passive motion, in weightbearing and non-weightbearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and low back disability, finding no evidence of direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found that no earlier effective dates could be granted.,Issues related to asthma, COPD, heart condition, hemorrhoids, peripheral neuropathy, wrist condition, thumb fracture, lower extremity radiculopathy, upper extremity radiculopathy, forearm/elbow condition, and other conditions were also remanded for further development.