Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder or insomnia, sleep apnea, and increased ratings for post-operative residuals spinal fusion/IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), painful scar, status post laminectomy, scars, status post laminectomy and spinal fusion surgeries, and maxillary sinusitis has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal in June 2024.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for headaches was rendered moot by the AOJ's award of service connection for headaches in February 2024.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current hearing disability for VA purposes, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. For knee conditions, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disability and insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptoms or a link between the in-service injury and the current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, which aggravated his obesity. As a result, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as no formal or informal claim was received prior to June 23, 2020.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) and hypertension (HTN) is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, post hip replacement and left hip osteoarthritis, post hip replacement are granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, foot, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The claims are related to service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for TDIU prior to October 7, 2019. Service connection for prostate cancer was not established due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity sciatica were both rated at 20 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right hip condition, which includes avascular necrosis, degenerative arthritis, and chondromalacia with limited extension, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's right femoral cyst with avascular necrosis of the femur and osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension, but not for flexion or thigh impairment. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, finding no causal relationship between the condition and the Veteran's right ankle disability. The decision also denied secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination, which did not provide sufficient information about his service-connected lumbar strain, IVDS and degenerative arthritis. The case will be reassessed with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as associated scars. The issues have not been decided yet.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 1, 2019.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is established as of July 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of any claims.

The Board dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that it was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board also found no evidence of secondary service connection due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acute cervical sprain is granted. Service connection for a cervical spine disability other than degenerative arthritis (including cervical spondylosis, stenosis and radiculitis) is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee lateral meniscus tear with osteoarthritis, and left knee strain with osteoarthritis due to unclear functional loss during flare-ups and additional loss of function.