Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of a temporary total disability rating beyond June 1, 2020 due to right knee arthroplasty was denied. However, the Veteran received a 60 percent disability rating following her right knee total arthroplasty based on severe residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings for his service-connected back condition, headaches, PTSD, bilateral knee conditions, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has denied readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, an eye injury, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and gonorrhea as no new and relevant evidence was received within one year of the respective decisions.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of October 8, 2014 for service connection of left hip strain and degenerative arthritis with limitation of abduction, flexion, and extension.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is required to attempt to obtain complete service department records, including military personnel records from both active duty and Reserve service. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as the appeal is no longer valid due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, IVDS with bulging disc, and thoracic strain have been granted. The appeal of the issues related to right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating for GERD has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his conditions are manageable with the help of family members.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a cervical spine condition, finding that new evidence supports these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 9, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due solely to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from March 22, 2010. He also received separate ratings of 10 percent for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy during the appeal period.,The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as there was no valid appeal submitted within one year of the February 10, 2021 decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased evaluations of 30 percent each, but no higher.

The Veteran's left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis is denied service connection. The right shoulder AC joint arthritis and labral tear, lumbosacral spine degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 30 percent disability ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The VA examiners concluded that the veteran's degenerative arthritis was more likely due to aging and wear and tear rather than any incident during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disabilities is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate examination findings and the need for flare-up assessments.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his lumbar spine disability, finding that it began during active service and is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that it is etiologically related to an in-service injury during military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal as it pertained to conditions and issues related to service connection.