Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as additional evidence is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as they are considered to be a result of the Veteran's in-service back disability.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 60 percent initial rating effective August 7, 2015, for GERD with gastritis. The other claims were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions, but denied service connection for a left hip condition.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions as they are considered to be directly related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's left knee injury with instability and degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the submission of additional evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 7, 2014 due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his back and knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for clarification on whether he has had 'functional ankylosis' in either his back or left knee disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee osteoarthritis and instability was denied, but a separate 10 percent rating for instability was granted. A TDIU was initially denied prior to March 11, 2019, but was later granted from that date onwards.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for non-specific dermatitis and tinea versicolor, and service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee joint traumatic osteoarthritis. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for right knee instability.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is remanded due to a duty to assist error. An adequate VA medical opinion is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities was granted with effective dates of September 2, 2021. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Veteran's knee and back braces caused increased wear or tear to his outer clothing in 2019, leading to the grant of an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board also requests an addendum opinion regarding the possibility of separate ratings for muscle disorders.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, psychiatric disability other than unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified neurocognitive disorder, and urination disability were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis before the Board could make a decision.