Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is denied as the weight of evidence does not support a finding that any current left foot disability is related to service or caused by other service-connected disabilities.,Claims for higher ratings for chronic sinusitis prior to March 2, 2020 and from March 2, 2020 are both denied. The Veteran has experienced non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis in the past year but no incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, a medical opinion on secondary service connection, and an examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The claims are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine.,Service connection is denied for a fatigue condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The claim is pending further development.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims for prior to August 23, 2018, were denied as his unemployability was not solely due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 7, 2021. This rating is granted for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's right shoulder, low back, left knee, and shin splints disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion. The ear infections, tinnitus, and hearing loss claims are also remanded due to the need to verify burn pit exposure.,Service connection is granted for ear infections, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss based on presumed exposure to toxic substances at Dugway Proving Grounds.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain and left ankle degenerative arthritis are rated at the maximum available under VA regulations, with no higher ratings due to lack of ankylosis or other specific criteria.,Service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is denied as it pre-existed service. Service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney withdrawing from representing him in all claims before VA.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lumbar radiculopathy, and left knee posttraumatic osteoarthritis have been granted initial ratings. A TDIU has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on eleven service-connected disabilities is dismissed due to the absence of a notice of disagreement (NOD) for the October 2017 rating decision that awarded the maximum, 50 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective dates has been decided.,Service connection for TMJ is remanded, and the issue of CUE in the November 2011 rating decision regarding lumbar spine disability is referred to the RO.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, foot, and low back disorders due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, a bilateral hand disability, a sinus disability, retention cyst maxillary sinus, varicose vein disability of the bilateral lower extremities, and urinary incontinence disability are remanded.