Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a challenge regarding the competency of the September 2020 VA examiner. The Board requests that the AOJ provide the Veteran and his representative with a copy of the examiner's curriculum vitae.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar and right knee disorders, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied because no new and relevant evidence was received within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's sleep apnea disability was granted a rating of more than 50 percent from January 31, 2020 to February 7, 2021. The thoracolumbar spine disability received a 40 percent rating during the same period and the cervical spine disability was denied a higher rating. TDIU was granted effective January 31, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps and progression over time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the spine (lumbar spine) as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on forward flexion or combined range of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claim for increased rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claim must be remanded to obtain a new VA opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of various joints due to insufficient medical opinions addressing relevant STRs and lay statements.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck and back conditions, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for retroactive CRDP compensation benefits is remanded due to an error in the AOJ correspondence, which did not include a new Audit Error Worksheet for the period from September 1, 2001 to January 2004. The Veteran should contact DFAS to obtain this information and have his claim readjudicated.

The Veteran's back disorder and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve are not rated higher than currently, with some issues remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, including a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service injury during basic training.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative osteoarthritis is found to have started during service and has continued since then, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is granted service connection secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.,The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted service connection due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than July 24, 2017 for service connection of degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine and right ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran filed a claim prior to this date.