Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

Effective dates of May 20, 2019, have been granted for the service connection of generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of both knees and the thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left arm condition is denied. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, with limitation of motion, is granted at 40 percent. A separate rating of 10 percent is granted for residual symptoms of meniscal injury of the left knee. Service connection claims for cervical spine and left shoulder conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been readjudicated due to new evidence. The claims for liver disease, coronary artery disease, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis are being remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show that his current hearing loss disability was incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted secondary to his service-connected cervical strain and squamous cell carcinoma, left tongue s/p partial glossectomy.,The Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and squamous cell carcinoma, left tongue s/p partial glossectomy.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, which may be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disorders manifested by foot drop with nerve damage and/or osteoarthritis as there is no current disability of such disorders at any time proximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, rated at 10% each, are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating for limitation of flexion, extension, and abduction. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the left knee, is related to documented in-service injury and diagnosis. The Board finds that service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Board found that an effective date earlier than November 30, 2010, for service connection of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left ankle degenerative arthritis with tendonitis is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service. The left foot disability claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including degenerative arthritis and metatarsalgia, was rated at 20 percent prior to July 26, 2022, and remains at that level after July 25, 2022. The disability is currently considered moderately severe.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and right hand osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence supports a link between his in-service duties as a musician and the development of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis is rated at a separate 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy, while the primary condition remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left knee degenerative arthritis, status post ACL tear with surgical repair was denied by the RO. The VA examiner found no evidence of instability or meniscus condition in the left knee and noted that the Veteran had moderate functional limitations due to DJD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no further action can be taken on the claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of chondromalacia and osteoarthritis of both hips due to the Veteran's death.