Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for right hip osteoarthritis and right thigh impairment, including their propriety of reductions. The claim for continued eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also deferred due to its intertwinement with the other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of back injury should be remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination and medical opinion, which is necessary to determine if his current disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist condition, characterized by severe ankylosis and loss of use, is now rated at 60 percent effective January 14, 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia with osteoarthritis and right knee chondromalacia patellae with osteoarthritis. The evidence supports that the Veteran's ED is related to his bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to a failure to provide notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing before the AOJ.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to submission of new and relevant evidence. The effective date for the increased rating of lumbosacral strain is set at July 16, 2021. The remaining issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis (claimed as back condition) has been denied due to the lack of evidence showing a link between his current disability and service.,Service connection for bilateral leg cramps was also denied because there is no objective clinical evidence confirming a diagnosis during the review period.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis is granted as service connected due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right total knee replacement has been withdrawn.,An effective date of July 11, 2022, is granted for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The claim for an earlier effective date for left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear and osteoarthritis remains denied as there was no pending or unadjudicated claim prior to June 28, 2022.,Service connection is granted for the left medial malleus fracture status post open reduction internal fixation.,An increased rating of 10 percent is denied for right knee instability before March 22, 2010.,An increased rating of 10 percent is denied for left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear.,An increased rating of 10 percent is denied for low back strain with scoliosis and degenerative joint diseases with intervertebral disc syndrome.,A compensable disability rating is denied for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for an updated opinion on whether his current condition is aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis was dismissed as moot because the March 2024 rating decision granted the benefits sought, making the appeal irrelevant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 30, 2020. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for shoulder and hip arthritis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and the thoracolumbar spine disability is denied for ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to June 20, 2024, and 40 percent as of that date.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused him to become obese, which was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. The decision also concludes that obesity would not have occurred but for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and instability have been granted a 30 percent rating since January 17, 2024. The 30 percent rating is for the right knee degenerative arthritis, while a separate 10 percent rating has been assigned for right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his back disability and bilateral lower radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee meniscal tear, as well as entitlement to a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee prior to March 18, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right thumb disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the disability and its functional loss.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea, right forearm supination and pronation impairment, right forearm limitation of extension, and right forearm compartment syndrome with crush injury with fasciotomy are all granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding a left toe disorder and service connection. The Veteran's initial disability rating of 60 percent for his left knee degenerative arthritis remains unchanged.