Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

Your appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine has been dismissed due to your death during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,A rating of 10 percent, and no higher, has been granted for degenerative arthritis of the right fifth finger.,Service connection for hypertension has been established.,Service connection for residuals of status post bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome release has been established.,Service connection for migraine headaches has been established.,Service connection for a disability of the ear manifested by dizziness (including vertigo and peripheral vestibular disorder (PVD)) as secondary to service-connected rhinitis has been established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has not been established.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's 2007 heel fracture and 2016 metatarsal fracture by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with osteoarthritis. The issues of service connection for a left hip disability, right hip disability, and back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, is found to have started during his active service and has been continuous since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. The TDIU claim remains pending and will be readjudicated after all evidence has been considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being obtained by VA, and the RO should review this additional evidence and provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board has reopened a claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and remanded the claims for right and left leg disabilities as secondary to this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, but the claim of service connection for deep sweats is remanded due to inadequate medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right hip, and heart disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim of menstrual dysfunction was not granted as there is no evidence showing a current disability or functional impairment related to her Persian Gulf service. Claims for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities were also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's migraine and tension headaches are rated at 50% prior to February 27, 2020, and a higher rating is not warranted.,Since February 27, 2020, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome warrants a 40% rating.

Your appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to proceed with these claims as they are now inactive.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent prior to January 9, 2022, for her service-connected left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. Other claims for various conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent since November 4, 2022. A separate rating of 10 percent for shortening of the left lower extremity was granted. The issue of TDIU is moot.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and cervical spondylosis, right lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic / recurrent), and left lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic / recurrent).

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee conditions have been rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to their current severity, which does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being evaluated based on its secondary service connection theory, while his left shoulder osteoarthritis remains at a 20% rating.