Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and nerve damage, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic disease in service or continuous symptoms since service separation. The current diagnoses of spondylolisthesis, stenosis, degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and IVDS were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected.,Anxiety disorder was initially granted a 30% rating from October 3, 2018 to December 24, 2020.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining new VA opinions to address the conceded in-service radiation exposure and articles submitted by the appellant. The remanded issues are: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Kidney Disability, Lung Disability, and Osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is rated at 10% for limitation of flexion and the RO has granted restoration of a 20% rating. The claim for an increased evaluation for limitation of extension remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to failure to comply with prior remand directives and issues related to VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder based on limited range of motion, left knee disability based on limitation of motion, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, claimed as degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis and neck condition, is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience during the period on appeal prior to October 1, 2016. Therefore, TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service symptoms and continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate information regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically instability and range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to determine the severity of his service-connected back and neck disabilities, including whether there is evidence of functional ankylosis during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with panic disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 7, 2017. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a retrospective opinion on functional loss of his lumbar spine following repeated use over time.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury and osteoarthritis of the lower back have been granted. The effective date for these grants is June 13, 2018.