Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left ankle disability, and left shoulder disability were granted in October 2022. However, the Veteran failed to perfect an appeal for these issues under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded both his claim for an increased rating and his request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficiently rationalized medical opinions and a need for additional development, including an examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection due to an inadequate VA examination and lack of medical rationale.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and earlier effective dates for service connection are being remanded.,The initial rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion is denied, as the motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied service connection for bilateral shin splints. The decision on left knee osteoarthritis is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders are proximately due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically obesity as an intermediate step. As such, these conditions have been granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed as the appeal was not timely filed under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee strain, meniscal tear, and osteoarthritis. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings, leaving only the TDIU appeal which was also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis due to outstanding STRs not being obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error in the prior rating decision. The Board finds that the December 2019 examination report did not adequately consider all of the Veteran's symptomology associated with flare-ups, and thus requires a new examination.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for the service-connected major (dominant) right wrist disability from October 31, 2020. The decision is based on functional impairment consistent with favorable ankylosis in a position where the wrist can be locked at 20 to 30 degrees dorsiflexion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in May 2023 were denied, and thus attorney fees are not granted from these decisions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy, sciatic (right lower) is granted with a rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and PTSD are both remanded for further development.,Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, left ear hearing loss, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience. The Board granted TDIU effective September 25, 2018.

The Veteran's right hip gunshot wound residuals are rated at 40 percent disabling from March 30, 2020. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for degenerative arthritis of the right hip starting February 27, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the lack of a valid application filed prior to February 10, 2020.,The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at February 10, 2020.