Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

Service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is granted. The remaining claims of increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records. The Board will consider the evidence of record at the time of the August 2022 AOJ supplemental claim decision on appeal, but any evidence submitted after that date will be considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an additional right shoulder disability resulting from treatment at a VA medical center in March 2014 is denied.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the low back is rated at 20 percent, and his right total knee replacement residuals are rated at 60 percent. The ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pneumonia, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, neck disorder, osteopenia of the bilateral hands, wrists, hips, ankles and feet, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine has been denied. The Board found no current disability related to any of these conditions at the time of filing or during the pendency of his claim.,The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service injuries were not credible due to a significant lapse in time between service and post-service medical treatment, as well as inconsistencies with contemporaneous records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes in the right and left ankles, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The disability ratings have been increased to 20 percent effective October 31, 2013.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from November 1, 2016, to March 24, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current back disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,A 20 percent rating, but no higher, for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is granted.,A compensable (10%) rating for right knee patella tendon repair scar prior to September 16, 2020 is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patella tendon repair scar from September 16, 2020 is denied.,Prior to June 3, 2021, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patella tendon tear with degenerative joint disease is denied. On and after June 3, 2021, a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for the same condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA was granted with an effective date of December 20, 2022. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred within one-year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations were denied. The Veteran was awarded a 10% evaluation for hypertension and a 30% evaluation for cervical myositis with cervical spine spondylosis, but the maximum benefits are not granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee conditions were incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran is presumed to have entered service with a pre-existing condition, and further examination is needed to determine if there was any aggravation of this condition during service.

The Board has restored the previously granted ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation, left knee degenerative arthritis with limited extension, right knee degenerative arthritis with limited extension, and right knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, sinus disability, left ankle disability, and sleep apnea. The left foot disability is also granted as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.,Service connection was established based on direct evidence of a present disability and credible lay statements regarding in-service events.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left ankle disability and a temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues related to severing service connection for various conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for service-connected right knee and left hip disabilities due to concerns about the ameliorative effects of medication. Additionally, a remand is required to obtain private medical records from Drs. Dorman, Bowen, and Reagan.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current left hip disability to service, and the low back disability was rated at 10 percent due to its degenerative nature.