Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service knee pain and injuries.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has not been received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back, right knee, left knee, and left knee instability disorders are REMANDED.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected due to lack of a causal link, and an additional opinion is needed to address whether any aggravation by his service-connected conditions exists.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider evidence not previously considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a duty to assist error. The issues include right shoulder, left shoulder, bilateral foot, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for sciatic neuropathy, left lower extremity, associated with left hip osteoarthritis with limited abduction. This decision is based on the Veteran's symptoms and medical examination findings.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left ear hearing loss, incision scar posterior neck, and cervical spine disability are denied. The claim for service connection for TBI is remanded.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for bilateral pes planus from 50% to 10% was improper and restored the original 50% rating effective November 1, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as the appeals are legally prohibited.,No valid theory of entitlement was presented to enable an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right drop foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA examination and provide medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been granted a 20% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities remain at their current ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right lower extremity neurological disorder is denied. The RO granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for GERD from June 24, 2022, and denied claims for increased ratings for dermatitis, back disability, left lower extremity sciatica, and knee strains.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are continuous since service and warrant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability ratings meet the minimum requirements for consideration of a TDIU, and her service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including diverticulitis with GERD and resection of the small intestine, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatica, and left lower extremity sciatica. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 6, 2022, for the awards of service connection for depressive disorder and degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service and acquired back disorders. The case will be returned to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, back disability, hand and foot degenerative arthritis, pes planus, migraine disability, and concussion disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions or evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not compensable.