Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there was no credible evidence to support his contention that he injured his back during active duty. The Board also noted that the Veteran served less than 90 days on active duty and thus is not entitled to the presumption of service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records from Brooke Army Medical Center and Shavano Park Outpatient Clinic. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is pending.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for ratings of his right knee, left knee, and left knee scars have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed. Effective May 24, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and low back disability, finding that these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis respectively.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy were found to not meet the criteria for higher evaluations, with the highest rating of 20 percent being granted for his thoracolumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome were rated at 40 percent from October 5, 2016 to December 17, 2019.,Since December 18, 2019, a rating in excess of 40 percent for these conditions has not been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in evaluating the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain. A new VA opinion is needed to consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, as secondary to his service-connected anterior thigh status post gunshot wound left thigh.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder and radiculopathy, rhinitis, deviated septum and sinusitis, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2013. The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 1, 2013 for the TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his active-duty service and his current condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's low back disability is not secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and left ear hearing loss, as they were not fully addressed in the previous rating decision. The appeal period begins from January 12, 2011, one year prior to the receipt of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected status post fracture right first metatarsal, dislocation with hallux rigidus and degenerative arthritis has resulted in moderately severe symptoms since November 17, 2016. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions, including the suprapatellar effusion and complex tear.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities on a direct basis. Service connection for left lower extremity nerve disability is also granted as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.,Service connection for sinusitis on a presumptive basis due to exposure to particulate matter in Saudi Arabia during active duty has been established. The Board finds that service connection for left foot degenerative arthritis cannot be determined at this time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent. Service connection for hypertension and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine are granted, while service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, ingrown toenails, and a skin disorder are denied.

Your claims for service connection have been granted, but the decision is a full grant of the benefits sought.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further medical development, including obtaining an addendum opinion and requesting SSA records.