Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records and lack of explanation regarding diagnostic codes used throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and right and left leg radiculopathy due to inadequate consideration of retroactive range of motion studies, failure to consider the ameliorative effects of medications, and inapplicability of Correia v. McDonald.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disability. The examiner needs to consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's self-reporting and private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis (status post reverse total shoulder arthroplasty), left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The rating assigned is 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, left wrist strain with degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain. The conditions are deemed to have started during the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right thumb disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the current 10% rating adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis was denied. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability, which is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH), special home adaptation (SHA) grant, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to unclear extent of service-connected disabilities affecting daily activities.

The appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic right groin problems, right big toe frostbite, left foot gout, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, tension headaches, and lumbar spine arthritis have been dismissed. The appeals for service connection of left knee disorder and right knee disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided is inadequate and requires further action, including obtaining additional service treatment records and providing an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous directives regarding scheduling a VA examination for mobility and transportation issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's current foot conditions are being reviewed for a possible connection to his service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations in December 2019. The Veteran served in the U.S. Air Force from July 1966 to October 1968.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left wrist and chronic low back strain due to inadequate examination reports that did not address the Veteran's reported flare-ups.