Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is caused by her service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a back disorder. The Veteran's knee strains are not considered related to his service.,Service connection was also denied for a left leg disorder other than the knee strain, and a right leg disorder other than the knee strain and sciatica.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the spine were granted ratings, with the radiculopathy receiving a 20% rating effective February 19, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, nor could it establish continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent prior to March 1, 2021. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted with effective dates of March 7, 1981, February 13, 2014, and February 13, 2014 respectively.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and private medical opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes, necessitating a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for each condition. No higher ratings are available under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to new evidence received after the previous denial. The Board found that the evidence is relevant but not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for each of the service-connected right and left thumb arthritis, index finger arthritis, long finger arthritis, ring and little finger arthritis. The ratings are effective as of August 21, 2020.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to new evidence received after the previous denial. The Board found that the evidence is relevant but not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his back condition is not causally or etiologically related to an injury, disease, or incident during service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection on all issues due to the Veteran's passing during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury and low back osteoarthritis due to a failure to provide a VA examination, as required by McLendon v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including total replacement and flexion/extension limitations, is granted with a 60% rating effective April 1, 2020. Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right hip degenerative arthritis, left ankle osteoarthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, and lumbosacral spine arthritis. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran's August 2021 request to review the June 2021 rating decision was improperly docketed, as it did not address his left elbow disability. The RO has not issued a proper decision regarding this issue.

The appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for mild tibiotalar osteoarthritis, left ankle is granted based on resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective July 11, 2018. A TDIU is also granted.