Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of lumbar lower back, but remanded the claims for right shoulder condition and sleep apnea syndrome due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, and tension headaches as secondary to cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, finding no evidence of onset in service or within one year of discharge. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection based on sarcoidosis and steroid use, as well as obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted initial disability ratings, with the exception of intervertebral disc syndrome with sacroiliac strain and degenerative arthritis, which has been increased to 40 percent effective June 16, 2021. The remaining conditions have received initial disability ratings ranging from 10 to 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted. Increased ratings were awarded for lumbar strain (40%), bilateral foot degenerative joint disease (10%), and migraine cephalgia (30%). The effective date for the increase to a 10 percent rating for bilateral feet degenerative joint disease is May 25, 2017.

The Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disorders were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 30 percent from May 15, 2013 to December 14, 2016. From December 15, 2016, the rating remains at 30 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU and SMC based on his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent before March 16, 2021, but denied for a rating greater than 40 percent beginning March 16, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to insufficient discussion in the June 2021 decision regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee strain with degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopy, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.,The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no persuasive weight of evidence to support these claims.,The Board noted that while the Veteran reported in-service back pain and knee conditions, post-service medical records did not show development of these conditions within a year after service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine from May 18, 2016 is being remanded due to incomplete development. The RO must obtain authorization and request private treatment records.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome), have been granted service connection. A 40 percent rating has been assigned for the low back disability prior to September 3, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated income information and medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Appellant needs aid and attendance or is housebound.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities due to new in-service treatment records and a need for an opinion on whether his current conditions are related to military service, including a reported motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons and bases for its estimated loss of degrees of range of motion during flare-ups for the period prior to March 22, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, finding it related to an in-service fall and head injury. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis is also considered directly related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, which is secondary to his service-connected varicose veins, has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received prior to transfer of the appeal to the Board, which relates to the severity of retrolisthesis and includes a note about the Veteran wearing a brace for it.