Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2019

Service connection for tinnitus and chronic fatigue syndrome is granted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc prolapse (claimed as low back injury) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the hands and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists due to a lack of medical opinion linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran opting into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system. The case is remanded for further development regarding his glaucoma disability.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings for degenerative arthritis in the lumbar spine and radiculopathy in the left lower extremity have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with lumbar stenosis and multi-level degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and hypothyroidism is denied. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative meniscus surgery and degenerative arthritis, has not been evaluated since his last VA examination in November 2018. The Board is remanding the case to schedule a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that her current degenerative arthritis is not related to her active military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as separate ratings for instability in both knees, were granted. However, a higher rating is denied for the left knee injury residuals and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hallux valgus and bunions, as well as osteoarthritis of the first metatarsal phalangeal joints (MTPJs) in both feet. The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions are now considered service-connected.

Service connection for hemorrhoids is denied.,An initial rating of 10 percent for migraine headaches prior to February 9, 2018 is denied. A 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective from February 9, 2018 is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 6, 2015 and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,An initial compensable rating prior to April 16, 2019, and a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter for traumatic brain injury is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with herniated nucleus pulposus L4-L5, status-post spinal fusion is denied. The effective dates for TDIU and DEA are granted.

The Veteran's left little finger disability is currently rated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria. The Board has granted a 10 percent initial rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The Board finds that there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to December 12, 2015.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were granted increased ratings of 30% each for the period prior to March 28, 2016. Separate 10% ratings were also granted for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in both knees.