Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial rating for recurrent right foot strain was denied, and the claims for thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc disease were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service and concluding that the current condition is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted service connection. The initial rating for tinnitus has been increased to 40 percent, effective January 31, 2017. The effective date for service connection for back disability is set at January 31, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities and the Veteran’s ability to perform marginal employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and residuals from an in-service head injury, including TBI.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is related to his military service and/or secondary to his service-connected disabilities, particularly his cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder, right hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left hand and wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The disabilities are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's PTSD and spine disability have been rated at the maximum available ratings, with no further increase granted.

The Board denied service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and left hip strain, but granted a 40% rating for the Veteran's back disability from August 12, 2015. The appeals for increased ratings of the back disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hip strain with osteoarthritis claims must be remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his hip disability.

The Board has denied a non-initial compensable rating for osteoporosis of the thoracic spine and has remanded the issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's symptoms are related to her lumbosacral DDD and spine arthritis, which was service-connected after this increased rating appeal was perfected.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the heart disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The effective date for PTSD was not granted earlier than March 14, 2014, as no formal or informal claim existed prior to that date.,The effective date for radiculopathy was not granted earlier than August 15, 2017, due to the lack of a formal service connection claim prior to this date.,PTSD is now rated at 100 percent as per the criteria established by VA regulations.,Hiatal hernia remains rated at 10 percent based on its current symptoms and severity.,Hypertension continues to be rated at 10 percent, with no change in rating due to recent medical findings.,Osteoarthritis of lumbar spine is still rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for proper adjudication of the claims to include affording the Veteran an opportunity to undergo another VA examination.