Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he explicitly withdrew his claims for effective dates prior to September 16, 2016, and other related issues.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine osteoarthritis and cervical strain, but has remanded the issues of traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and shoulders due to incomplete evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD has been denied. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, as well as the TDIU claim, have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding Correia measurements at the time of the April 2015 VA examination and scheduling an orthopedic examination to determine the current severity of any left knee instability.

The Veteran's lumbar disability and service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating. The hip, headache, and GERD issues are REMANDED for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, hypertension, and total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete VA examinations and unclear opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there are no exceptional circumstances warranting extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's initial rating for GERD is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Veteran's back disability is also denied, with an initial rating of 10 percent prior to September 29, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. Service connection was granted for tinnitus but denied for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, sleep apnea, and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's left hip and lumbar spine disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylolisthesis due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricability with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, is granted as service connected due to a motor vehicle accident during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition, erectile dysfunction, and chronic kidney disease due to new evidence received since previous decisions.,Service connection is being considered based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has already decided the claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis prior to October 26, 2021. The case is dismissed as there is no longer a justiciable issue before the Board.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to October 30, 2014. From December 1, 2015, the Veteran received a 60 percent rating for his post-total knee arthroplasty.,Left knee instability was granted a 10 percent rating prior to October 30, 2014. The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic attacks is rated at 70 percent since February 25, 2011.,The Veteran received a TDIU rating from February 25, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), spinal stenosis, and scoliosis due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current low back disability and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS was initially rated at 20 percent, but he seeks a higher rating. The RO failed to obtain a contemporaneous VA examination prior to assigning this rating, which constitutes a duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 22, 2019 for a 20 percent rating for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and associated right upper extremity and left upper extremity radiculopathy has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to October 22, 2019.