Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a rash of the groin area, diagnosed as inverse psoriasis. The issue of an initial compensable rating for a back disability prior to April 16, 2020, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter remains pending. Other issues remain remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right middle finger disability, finding that it began during his military service and continues to this day.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her right hip disability from February 22, 2017 to April 18, 2017 is denied as the evidence does not show flexion limited to 45 degrees or more.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of her right hip disability status post hip replacement is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records and a need for a new examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and clarification of his employability resulting from functional impairment associated with his service-connected disabilities, without regard to non-service-connected impairments.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine began in service or is related to an injury during service. The VA will need to obtain private treatment records and request an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's right hip disability, characterized by limitation of extension and flexion, is granted an initial 20 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability from September 1, 2018 onward was denied. The Board found that the current assigned rating of 30% adequately compensates him for his pain with limited motion and functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected lower back problem (LBP) disability has increased in severity, and he is being asked to provide updated medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's hospitalization for alcohol dependency was not related to his service-connected right shoulder condition, and thus he is denied a temporary 100% evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hip disabilities are related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical spine disability was denied, and his claim for TDIU from October 26, 2020 forward was also denied. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on his degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and there were no incapacitating episodes requiring bedrest.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The issues regarding cervical discectomy scar, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine discectomy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, gout/left great toe degenerative arthritis, asthma, and skin disability were denied service connection as there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis from March 30, 2012 to December 10, 2017 on an extraschedular basis as the disability was adequately compensated by the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated right sciatic radiculopathy are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of increased severity since his last VA examination in March 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 14, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative osteoarthritis and service connection for bronchitis due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete information and need for a new VA examination. The issues include evaluations for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and MDD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis originated during active service and grants this claim.