Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lower back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and lack of compliance with prior instructions. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that there was no increase in severity of the preexisting condition during service and thus not meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for mood disorder due to known physiological condition with depressive features, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and neurogenic bladder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral hips and shoulders, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion obtained prior to the March 5, 2021 rating decision on appeal were inadequate due to a failure to address positive evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee symptoms. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral flatfoot with plantar fasciitis was granted a rating of 10% effective June 30, 2020.,The Veteran's mood disorder with depressive features was granted a rating of 30% effective January 18, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to a lack of service connection for any lumbar condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and lower back disabilities are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examinations provided were inadequate for adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity of the Veteran's low back disability during flare-ups. The Veteran is also pending an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether this condition began during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied. The cause of death claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee replacement post-operative, left total knee replacement, and radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for right knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension, finding that continuous pursuit of the issue was not established and that worsening of the condition did not occur within one year prior to receipt of the November 2020 VA Form 21-526EZ.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective January 25, 2021, as the evidence showed he was unable to secure or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.

The Veteran's right shoulder bicipital tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis; left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis; intervertebral disc syndrome; and cervical spondylosis are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee arthritis and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the back and multiple hip, knee, ankle, and plantar fasciitis conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU effective December 12, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis was granted, with a disability rating of 40 percent effective March 5, 2020. The Board found that the evidence supported this decision based on the March 2020 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is related to her active-duty service, and thus grants her claim for service connection.