Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran is granted an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2018 due to use of a left knee brace. The Board found that service connection was in effect for a left knee disability during the 2018 calendar year and the Veteran's regular use of a left knee brace tended to wear out or tear his outer garments.,The Veteran is denied an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2018 due to use of a back brace. The Board found that service connection was in effect for a back disability during the 2018 calendar year, but there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's Lumbar Sacral Orthosis (back brace) tended to wear out or tear his outer garments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his heart disorder, hypertension, and bilateral hip conditions. The claims will be reviewed with updated evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of an addendum opinion addressing all claimed conditions, including a November 1967 plantar wart notation.

The Board has determined that separate disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left and right femur fractures are warranted, resulting in bilateral hip disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain appropriate examinations and to assign initial disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for torn Achilles tendon of the right heel, status post tear of the fibula collateral ligaments of the right ankle (claimed as torn Achilles of the right heel), and degenerative arthritis of the right foot due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship with service.,There is no credible evidence that the Veteran currently has any of these conditions. The Board found her reports of continuous symptoms since service were not credible, and there was no medical opinion linking her current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected disabilities of bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral ankles, right knee, and fifth metatarsal of the left foot require additional development due to a lack of updated VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been restored to their previous ratings of 30 percent for left knee and 20 percent for right knee, effective November 1, 2014. The decision also dismissed the appeals regarding a temporary total disability rating for knee surgery and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and right hip disorders. The claims are now remanded for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ankle achilles tendon rupture is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip disability, as secondary to service-connected right knee tendonitis. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and did not substantially comply with the May 2021 remand instructions.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis has not been found to warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for more severe limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, neck, and right shoulder disorders based on credible lay evidence of in-service injury and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the cervical spine did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 17, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability is denied. The case is remanded for additional development, including consideration of the Veteran's TDIU claim and review of new VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and initial rating for her right shoulder recurrent rotator cuff tear has been granted. The issue of an increased rating for her low back disability remains pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left hip, right hip, and knee disabilities are denied as service connection is not established.,PTSD service connection is remanded due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis status post-meniscus tear repair of the left knee prior to January 27, 2015 is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral knee disability, including Osgood-Schlatter disease. The issues are whether the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition was permanently aggravated by his service and whether any current left knee disability is a delayed post-traumatic residual of activities during service.