Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing functional impairment equivalent to ankylosis.,Higher staged ratings were also denied for radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to new information suggesting worsening of the Veteran's left knee disabilities, including pain and limitation of motion during flare-ups. The Veteran needs an updated examination to assess his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea), claimed as asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his back and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for lumbar DDD or higher than 20 percent thereafter for right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 10, 2020. His TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of that day.

The Board has found that the Veteran's degenerative disc of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.,For his left hand and shoulder conditions, the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left hip condition, including arthritis and joint replacement, is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus. However, due to insufficient evidence, further examination and opinion are required.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and related radiculopathy conditions are all granted. The Veteran also has a secondary service-connected spinal scar.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and left hip disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it is not related to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The evidence is at least balanced as to whether his tinnitus began during service.

The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension and flexion, but not more than this.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates and increased ratings for bilateral knee conditions are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the January 2022 VA examination.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40% disabling, which represents an increase from the original rating of 10%. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and cervical degenerative disc disease are granted as service-connected.,Hyperlipidemia is granted as secondary to major depressive disorder. Lipomas of the chest and right middle back, and interstitial lung disease (claimed as asbestosis) are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative arthritis is causally related to a knee injury sustained during active service, and therefore grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective May 21, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran detrimentally relied on the actions taken by the AOJ and thus grants an earlier effective date of September 30, 2016.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities are rated as 50 percent disabling based on symptoms that would be duplicative or overlap symptomatology with his BPTD, which is already evaluated at 50 percent. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for the foot disabilities from July 23, 2010, to February 19, 2022, is denied.

The Veteran's current left shoulder condition is not related to his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for left shoulder strain, left rotator cuff tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, glenohumeral joint dislocation, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation of his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis and hypertension, finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.