Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for limitation of flexion, knee (osteoarthritis, left knee), finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee conditions have been granted service connection as they are found to be related to her active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The TDIU claim was granted effective February 1, 2020, but the Board found it not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities increased in severity so as to render him unemployable during the one-year period prior to his claim. For DEA eligibility, the effective date of February 1, 2020, was based on the TDIU award and is considered the earliest date at which the Veteran could establish eligibility for Chapter 35 benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current left knee condition, which he claims was caused by an injury sustained during service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, right knee, and right shoulder impingement. The conditions are considered to be directly related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability began during active service and is granted as service connection.

The Veteran's left foot disability, characterized by hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ), has been rated at 10 percent since February 23, 2005. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted service connection effective June 28, 2020.,A 40 percent rating for the back condition was also granted effective June 28, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis, is granted. The Board also notes that the Veteran has been diagnosed with a left knee condition and remands to determine if it is related to his right knee disability.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unemployable prior to June 5, 2023. The combined rating of his service-connected conditions does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Bipolar Disorder and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome with Degenerative Arthritis of the Thoracolumbar Spine, have rendered him totally occupationally impaired. The Board denied his request for VR&E benefits to pursue a Doctorate degree in either Business Administration or Psychology.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis (claimed as residuals of neck injury) and residuals of a head injury are remanded due to insufficient consideration by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain with medial meniscus tear status post repair with degenerative arthritis and limitation of flexion, as well as left knee instability, are being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the August 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the right knee and a TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate examination in the March 2020 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability due to new evidence received since the previous denial. The claims for right shoulder and back disabilities have been dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's appeal for extension of a temporary total evaluation due to left knee degenerative arthritis requiring convalescence has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial compensable rating for his service-connected fracture of the left ring finger was dismissed because there was an already-pending appeal regarding the same issue, and concurrent elections are prohibited.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted with a 10% rating effective August 16, 2022. The appeal is dismissed.,The proposed reduction of the Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the right hip with impairment of thigh to noncompensable status was not final and therefore the appeal is also dismissed.