Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was denied multiple times before being granted effective from March 22, 2021. The effective date is set at this new determination based on the evidence of record as of that date.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as secondary to service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and he is awarded a TDIU due to his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's back and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they were aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU and a higher rating for lower back degenerative arthritis have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now moot.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his back disability and right shoulder disability are each rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a left shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are denied for a compensable rating prior to November 4, 2019, and more than 30 percent thereafter.,Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and right hip conditions, finding that these conditions are more likely than not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, degenerative arthritis (also claimed as rheumatoid arthritis), and left hip condition have been denied due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no indication in the record that the Veteran was exposed to any specific hazards or substances during his military service that could be linked to his current conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, left knee, and lower back disabilities were inadequate due to a lack of information on where pain begins during motion. The Board therefore orders remand for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 22, 2021 and increased ratings for CLL and left wrist osteoarthritis were denied. The Veteran was not granted an earlier effective date for his service connection claims due to lack of formal or informal claims within a year prior to the filing dates. His CLL is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7703, with no symptoms noted during the appeal period. His left wrist osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5003-5215.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several service-connected conditions, including bilateral dry eye disability, migraine headache disability, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip strain, and left hip disability. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. His left knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion, is granted a 40 percent rating.

The appeals of the denial of service connection for tinnitus and cataracts are dismissed. The increased rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma is denied, while the issues of sleep apnea, left knee joint arthritis with painful motion (extension), and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury during active duty training (ADT).,The appeal for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing his Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain and hand numbness, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 31, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions, as well as a right knee disability secondary to those conditions. The remand requires obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion that reconciles conflicting evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions cause him to need the regular aid and attendance of another person to remain clean and presentable, and to protect him from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury.