Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic low back pain, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his current condition and his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left ankle strain, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain as these conditions have been continuously present since the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's right knee strain was granted an increased rating of 30 percent effective November 30, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran had been entitled to this rating since at least November 30, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 12, 2020 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied. The Board found that no portion of the increase in his service-connected disabilities occurred within one year prior to the date of his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that his degenerative arthritis did not originate in service and was not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in medical evidence and need for clarification on the etiology of the Veteran's right hip condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's right knee conditions, including their relationship to service and any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition. The case will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the original grant of service connection for a back disability, as the December 2018 examiner's negative opinion was mistakenly read as positive. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for earlier effective dates and higher ratings.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left knee scar, left knee gonoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to inadequate examinations and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities contribute in substantial part to a vocational impairment, and he has not overcome the effects of such impairment. With resolution of reasonable doubt in his favor, the criteria for a determination that the Veteran has an employment handicap for VR&E benefits purposes have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions had their onset during his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and hepatitis C due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including addressing claims related to effective dates and service connection on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy are denied prior to February 8, 2021, and for right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied after February 8, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to service and may be considered for direct service connection. However, there are issues regarding whether his back disability is secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The decision is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing these issues.