Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or etiological relationship between the Veteran's active service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee instability and for a determination on his TDIU claim, which is inextricably intertwined with the left knee issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 1, 2017 due to her employment as a certified nurse assistant with VA. The Veteran worked until September 2017 and stopped working because she was no longer able to perform the physical and mental requirements of gainful activity.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the entire period on appeal, as he meets the schedular criteria and his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for right knee meniscal tear status post meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis, and whether obesity was caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective May 25, 2021. The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective May 25, 2021.,The Veteran's left and right knee instability are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has restored a 20% disability rating for service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy effective December 11, 2018. The remaining claims are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left total knee replacement as a residual of meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support aggravation of her pre-existing condition during periods of active duty training.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee arthritis, diabetes with kidney disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and stroke have all been granted due to evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.,Service connection is also granted on a presumptive basis for diabetes with kidney disease as it is associated with exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection for a neurologic condition of the lower extremities, claimed as nerve spasms, is denied. The claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been granted but not higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his in-service injury or any other factor.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability is remanded, as well as the claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The RO will provide an opportunity for additional examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted. The Board also remanded several other issues related to her service-connected disabilities and secondary conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left foot degenerative arthritis, right foot degenerative arthritis, and bilateral feet metatarsalgia with hallux valgus as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of onset or continuity of symptoms in service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated as 10 percent prior to September 10, 2020 and 40 percent from that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's right knee conditions are currently rated as 10 percent each. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis with gout and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient clarification of the January 2019 VA examination and the need for another VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee condition.