Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, and a right knee condition need further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the medical opinions provided did not support a link between the current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left foot hallux valgus is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a current service-connected disability, but remands his claims for additional examinations to determine the severity of his left knee and cervical spine disabilities as well as his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions, failure to address continuity of symptomatology, and lack of relevant STR notations. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether his low back disability and headache disorder are related to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and/or bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular rating for right and left knee disabilities prior to the specified dates due to the adequacy of the assigned schedular ratings.,The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or multiple disabilities independently rated at 60%, nor was he permanently housebound.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected back conditions and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and left shoulder degenerative arthritis. Service connection is also sought for a left hip disability, but the matter is REMANDED to obtain an opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, a right foot disability with frostbite residuals, and a back disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is instructed to provide additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted based on the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. The Veteran also received Individual Unemployability benefits as of March 7, 2019.

The Veteran's total disability rating for coronary artery disease renders his TDIU claim moot, as the other service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. The effective date of the 100% rating is March 14, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and right ankle degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The skin condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several of his service-connected conditions have been remanded by the Board. The issues include right upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and right elbow medial epicondylitis and strain.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy symptoms prior to March 21, 2020, were more closely approximated by moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's left hip condition, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and left ankle tendonitis are granted as secondary to service-connected lower extremity conditions.,Tinnitus is granted as secondary to acoustic trauma in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether his current condition is related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran withdrew all claims for service connection and higher ratings, including those for PTSD, osteoarthritis of the shoulder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, prostate disorder, and hypertension. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of her back condition as secondary to her service-connected left hip conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for PTSD, left knee instability, and left knee osteoarthritis with status postmeniscus tear as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee ACL tear with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee instability associated with left knee ACL tear with patellofemoral pain syndrome due to inconsistencies in the VA examinations and the need for additional evidence.