Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis as secondary to her service-connected bilateral trochanteric pain syndrome with bursitis and osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes degenerative arthritis and a history of fracture, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee joint osteoarthritis due to a lack of complete medical records.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis and right ankle disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective March 1, 2023. The Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of left-hand laceration, status post arthroplasty, with decreased sensation of the thumb and with history of swan neck deformity and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to inadequate examination evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, which includes diagnoses of degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome. The opinion provided by a VA examiner indicates that these conditions are related to complaints during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, adduction and abduction, and flexion were granted effective May 13, 2022. The effective date for the award was changed from June 28, 2021 to May 13, 2022.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, OSA, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability claims are denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and a left hip condition.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for knee, left and right chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, cervical paraspinal tendonitis with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, and lumbar paraspinal tendonitis with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS were denied. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions warranted a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar disorder and bilateral eye disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.,PTSD rating remains pending as no current rating is assigned.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a link to the Veteran's service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right, fifth finger osteoarthritis is denied. The issue of TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's GERD, lumbosacral strain, left hip iliopsoas tendinitis, right hip osteoarthritis and iliopsoas tendinitis, left knee condition to include tendonitis/tendinosis, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for lower back disorder, including degenerative arthritis, status post-laminectomy, and right ankle peroneal tendonitis. The appeals are granted to those extents. Service connection is not established for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right hips, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected lumbar disability. The claim for chronic pain and insomnia are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for scars of the right forehead, left lateral eye, and right upper lip. The acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of head injury, headaches, bilateral eye disability, and low back disorder are all denied.