Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee condition, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine condition, and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, urothelial cancer, and skin cancer due to incomplete service records.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis as they have been fully granted in a previous rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right shoulder condition was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating from April 17, 2012 to September 9, 2019 and from September 9, 2019 onwards.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that his current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because her Notice of Disagreement (NOD) did not clearly identify the specific issues she wanted to appeal, despite the Board's attempts at clarification.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain are found to be service-connected as they are related to his in-service injury, which he reported.

Your claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome has been granted, but as it was already granted in a previous rating decision, your appeal is dismissed.

All appeals for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Veteran has also withdrawn all appeals regarding effective date determinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left hand, a left hand ganglion cyst, and a left wrist disability as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was denied as his back disorder is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for complex partial seizure disorder with osteoporosis, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and TDIU are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner to retrospectively assess the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from January 29, 2010, through October 21, 2019.

The Veteran's IHD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis and associated neck scars, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU were granted effective January 27, 2017.,SMC at the housebound rate was not granted due to lack of additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left fifth finger osteoarthritis, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to service.