Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

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.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with cervical strain is granted as service connected, and the Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran's current neck disability began in service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 30 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis due to improper reduction and inadequate examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 50% disability rating for bilateral pes planus, effective June 1, 2021, finding that there was no actual improvement in her condition to warrant a reduction.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an effective date prior to June 19, 2017, for a temporary evaluation of 100 percent based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence for a lumbar spine disability. The issue was not properly before the Board due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim for service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, as his auditory thresholds do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the restoration of the effective date for service connection of left knee joint osteoarthritis with a meniscus tear, status post-arthroscopic surgery.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his service-connected right hip and left knee disabilities, as well as a right hip scar, is dismissed because the issues are already pending final adjudication by the Board.

The Board has restored the Veteran's lumbar strain rating from 40 percent to 20 percent effective July 1, 2020. The medical evidence did not show improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated at 20 percent, with a combined ROM of the thoracolumbar spine of 95 degrees. The rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher disability level.,Both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent respectively. The ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher disability level.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted effective July 1, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding whether his cervical spine disability, GERD, and progressive muscular atrophy are related to his service-connected conditions or if they are aggravated by them. The VA is required to provide additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, including IBS, left shoulder disability, knee disabilities, and varicose veins. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2014, and denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted an increased rating of 10 percent, but the effective date for this increase is denied. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis does not meet the criteria for a prior effective date before August 1, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar degenerative joint disease, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressive disorder, peripheral nerve conditions, and right shoulder osteoarthritis preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The appeal is dismissed because the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected disabilities has been resolved by a prior grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis were denied as the evidence did not show symptoms more nearly approximating marked limited motion of the ankles.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees due to a failure to provide a VA examination, as required by McLendon v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the care or assistance of another on a regular basis, and the Board has granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.