Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right ankle disorder, including tendonitis, tenosynovitis, sprain, and osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis as secondary to his right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis and impingement syndrome, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left hip strain, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The VA will obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not result in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, or limitation of extension to 15 degrees or more. The current ratings are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating for marked limitation of motion, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylosis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his active service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to his service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS is granted an effective date of January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and has remanded the issue of service connection for cervical arthritis and spinal stenosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his flexion was limited to 110 degrees and there were no findings of instability or other disabling effects. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Veteran requested to dismiss his claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and the Board granted this request.

The Veteran's appeal for compensable ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left and right feet associated with bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates related to his service-connected conditions has been granted. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU, Dependents' Educational Assistance, and the specific rating increases have all been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since February 10, 2014. The effective date for these ratings is the date of receipt of his claim.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI insurance was denied because it was not received within two years of the most recent grant of service connection, which occurred in October 2018. The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria as per 38 U.S.C. § 1922(a).

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated noncompensable due to painful motion but not showing flexion limited to 45 degrees or less. The Board has remanded the claims for GERD and a right hip disability.