Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right hand (thumb) is as likely as not attributable to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal as to the issues of fracture of the 7th and 8th ribs, and right ulnar fracture.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a left knee condition and has also granted him presumptive service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran experienced symptoms related to his left knee during service, which continued after discharge.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's current right knee disorder is clearly and unmistakably related to service, as the previous examiner used an incorrect evidentiary standard.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions: IVDS, bilateral leg radiculopathy, and left ear hearing loss. More contemporaneous examinations are needed for these issues.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral shoulder conditions are all found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for these disabilities.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for a left arm disability, to include status post abcess of left upper arm and left glenohumeral and acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, as an addendum opinion is needed regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate statement of reasons or bases and failure to provide clear definitions for terms used in the rating criteria. The Veteran's left ankle disability is being evaluated again as a result.

The Board has found that the Veteran's increased rating claims for her bilateral knee disabilities must be remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate evaluations of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.,Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (IVDS, spinal stenosis), lumbosacral radiculitis of the left and right lower extremities, all secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for consideration of additional VA treatment records and a January 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS was rated at 10 percent prior to February 8, 2016. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's increased rating claims for his lumbosacral strain spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis prior to October 2, 2012. The appeal was also dismissed regarding his claims for higher ratings from April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as well as preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot osteoarthritis, right foot osteoarthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on moderate symptoms of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and bilateral leg condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability and MDD/GAD secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries, with continuity of symptoms since discharge.