Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder osteoarthritis, right shoulder arthralgia, bilateral hip limitation of flexion and extension, bilateral knee limitation of flexion and extension, and bilateral ankle arthralgia have been granted service connection with effective dates starting from January 17, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip, right knee, and right ankle conditions as secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings for service-connected bilateral pes planus, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions regarding obtaining records from the Office of Personnel Management.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were slight and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 25, 2023. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as there was insufficient evidence to substantiate his unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for headaches, heart palpitations, and degenerative arthritis with deterioration of bone tissue in the back as they were improper concurrent elections or untimely.

The appeals for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and chronic bronchitis have been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome (claimed as arthritis in knees), left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome (claimed as arthritis in knees), and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development. Additionally, earlier effective dates are being sought for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis and acute deltoid ligament sprain, healed, finding that his pre-existing condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has decided the claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder rotator cuff tear with AC joint osteoarthritis, secondary to a service-connected disability. The case is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his low back and neck disabilities, as well as clarification regarding diagnoses of urinary frequency disorder and nerve disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with major depressive disorder associated with right knee strain and/or weight gain due to inability to exercise due to chronic pain caused by his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 19, 2019 are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the competency of a VA examiner.,The Veteran's claims for disability ratings in excess of those granted are also remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the competency of a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations that consider his flare-ups of knee pain and current back condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.,Service connection for OSA was not granted because the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition during service and there is no medical nexus between his current condition and his service-connected PTSD. The Board also found that obesity, which may be related to his anxiety disorder, does not cause his sleep apnea.,The claim for generalized anxiety disorder remains pending as the Board could not determine if the Veteran's in-service events caused his current condition due to a lack of information from Federal records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings for radiculopathy of his lower extremities, as well as a claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome remains denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 21, 2018 for the Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (neuritis), finding that these conditions were secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

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.