Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural issues. The effective date of March 9, 2018, is granted for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeals regarding the effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and Dependents' Educational Assistance have been remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding restoration of special monthly compensation for the loss of use, deafness of both ears, has been remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to a failure to comply with an October 2019 Board decision regarding transfer of paper records into VBMS.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current condition is not etiologically related to an in-service injury and there are no chronic symptoms of arthritis during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a right hip disability based on limitation of flexion, a compensable rating for a right hip disability based on limitation of abduction, and a compensable rating for a right hip disability based on limitation of extension. The remand is due to inadequate September 2023 VA examination report and medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was rated at 30 percent from June 14, 2021. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the condition effective from that date.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to service-connected shin splints and sciatic nerve radiculopathy.,The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that her knee disabilities or plantar fasciitis were related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The effective date is set at January 19, 2023.

The appeal of the March 2022 administrative decision is dismissed as moot. The AOJ accepted an October 2022 HLR request for review of the November 2020 denial of an increased rating for a low back disability and issued a December 2022 HLR rating decision. The right hip disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance were denied as there was no factual basis to grant earlier effective dates, with the exception of a 10% increase in disability rating for tinnitus from October 29, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran did not become unemployable within one year prior to October 29, 2018.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current condition and service.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 26, 2017 for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Lumbar Spine Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and Left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for his service-connected back disability and associated neurological disabilities, and TDIU. The case will be remanded to obtain additional VA examination opinions and a retrospective opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including a potential failure to properly deliver the June 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to the appellant and his representative. The SSOCs need to be re-delivered with correct address information.

The Veteran's IVDS with back injury residuals with osteoarthritis is rated at 40 percent effective January 30, 2024. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for hearing loss and PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and insomnia disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied.