Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as it pertains to service connection for various conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for all claims of service connection, including left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, right foot degenerative arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed the remaining claims. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and depression.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, left wrist, and right wrist have been granted. The Veteran's knee conditions are rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and erectile dysfunction as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder. The claim for right hip disability, including groin strain, labral tear, and osteoarthritis is remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The claim for left hip degenerative arthritis is also remanded due to the inextricability with the right hip disability claim.,The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and erectile dysfunction as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder. The right hip disability, including groin strain, labral tear, and osteoarthritis is remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The left hip degenerative arthritis claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining private treatment records and considering the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain disease due to trauma (traumatic brain injury), paralysis of the median nerve (right hand neuropathy), and paralysis of the median nerve (left hand neuropathy) have all been denied.,The Veteran was granted an initial 20 percent rating for her service-connected fibromyalgia, but her claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities were denied increased ratings, while the TDIU claim prior to January 29, 2020, was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service connection claims, including for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) with essential tremors, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The evidence shows that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is aggravated by his right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee strain, finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's obesity, which is a result of his service-connected disabilities.

An effective date of October 12, 2021, but no earlier, has been granted for a 40 percent evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also granted on this same effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, chondromalacia was denied.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the 10 percent evaluation for service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, chondromalacia was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. Service connection is now granted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis, is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that readjudication is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hand and foot conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's right ankle gout with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5271 for moderate limitation of motion. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran's left ankle fusion with gout and degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5270 for ankylosis in dorsiflexion between 0 degrees and 10 degrees. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis in plantar flexion or abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical evidence to determine if service connection can be granted for the Veteran's claimed cervical strain condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evaluation due to a lack of adequate examination and duty to assist errors.