Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right ankle DJD and left knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's current ratings of 10 percent are maintained.

The Veteran's appeal of asthma and anxiety was withdrawn.,The Veteran's skin rash of the groin, CFS, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral strain claims were granted.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 19, 2011 for his TDIU and DEA eligibility due to service-connected PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip arthritis with impingement, left hip disability, hypertension, and right knee disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an examination report that did not comply with VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce their disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine from 40 percent to 10 percent is dismissed as a matter of law because the proposed reduction was not a final agency action.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, depression, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatic neuropathy of the left and right legs, as well as left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation for the period between July 8, 2019, to September 29, 2021. The Board has granted TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his back disability is denied. The Board has remanded the issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 2014 rating decision denying service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for left wrist strain and remanded the claims for chronic right ankle pain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded this issue for further examination.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 100 percent for service-connected depression and anxiety disorder was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with osteoarthritis and right ankle disorder were granted service connection as they are considered aggravated by in-service injuries.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are granted with an effective date of March 20, 2013.,It was determined that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU from March 20, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for scoliosis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis, and cervical strain based on the Veteran's contention that these conditions were aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for anxiety, PTSD, back disability, headaches, craniopharyngioma, and OSA have all been granted. The Board found that the current diagnoses are etiologically related to in-service stressors and events.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's initial rating for low back disability was denied, and the effective date of service connection was also denied. The VA determined that a higher rating than 20 percent is not warranted based on the evidence showing forward flexion greater than 30 degrees.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and service connection for plantar fasciitis, and these issues have been dismissed.

Service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted.,The issue of service connection for sinusitis is dismissed as moot due to the VA RO's independent grant prior to the Board decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left hip was granted due to new and relevant evidence submitted within 90 days of a hearing. The Board found that his current condition is etiologically related to his service-connected right hip condition.