Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain with osteoarthritis and left ankle sprain were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to December 3, 2019, or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service, particularly the motor vehicle accident in May 1988. The VA is asked to obtain updated treatment records and provide additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for upper-gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder as these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle tendonitis with osteoarthritis and calcaneal spurs, as well as a separate rating for left ankle instability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his disability status.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective July 2019, and his left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve from July 16, 2013 to March 8, 2017, and thereafter, is also rated at 40 percent. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination and an inadequate addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The issues are remanded for addendum opinions and additional development.

Effective July 24, 2017, the Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues regarding service connection for left foot and right foot conditions are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate explanation of why a VA examination was not required, and for additional development including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. However, his claim for valvular heart disease must be remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it was aggravated by hypertension during service.

The Veteran's residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including word finding difficulty and neurocognitive disorder, are found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic spine, right hip bursitis and osteoarthritis, left hip condition, hernia residuals, and MDD and other specified anxiety disorder are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence of a current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability resulted in functional equivalent of unfavorable ankylosis with abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side, warranting a 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the cervical spine claim due to inadequate opinions regarding its etiology. The Veteran's cervical spine disabilities are being reviewed again for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for hypoglycemia prior to September 28, 2012 was denied.,A disability rating of 20 percent for hypoglycemia from September 28, 2012 was granted.

Asthma was granted service connection effective March 26, 2015.,Right knee joint osteoarthritis and right wrist osteoarthritis were granted service connection effective October 3, 2014.

The Veteran's skin condition is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The cervical and lumbar spine conditions are denied as not related to active duty, while the iron deficiency anemia claim is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disability, specifically during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time. The Veteran is asked to provide updated treatment records from VA and private sources.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are related to a July 1990 injury during active training duty.