Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for gout, right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, and GERD as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to worsening symptoms. The case is remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder as no new and material evidence was submitted, despite additional VA medical records being received.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including left ankle, knee, shoulder, low back, foot hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, IBS, and migraine headaches, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he has one disability rated at 40 percent or more and sufficient additional disability to bring his combined rating to 70 percent or more due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Veteran's conditions are rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess his right ankle disability with arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and dismissed the claim as moot due to overlap with the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran was also remanded for further examination on his hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia was denied as there is no evidence of a disability.,Effective dates for left hip, hand, and psychiatric disabilities were denied prior to the date of claims or when entitlement arose.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a request for medical records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and further evidentiary development is needed.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the right hip, left hip, and headaches. The Veteran's disability manifested by weakness, fatigability, and irritability is remanded for further examination and opinion. An initial compensable rating for residuals of nonspecific orbital granuloma is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for bilateral knee condition and acquired psychiatric disorder as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease or injury during service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that any current osteoarthritis is not causally related to service.