Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee, nasal, jaw, and foot disabilities are granted. The claim for bilateral pes planus is also granted on the basis that it was aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, including thoracolumbar strain, degenerative arthritis, and scoliosis, finding that his pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence to support this determination based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cervical spine disability was dismissed.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted, with no specific rating assigned and no effective date provided.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis. The claims were decided on a direct basis as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

Service connection is granted for hemorrhoids, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and painful abrasion, blister of the left great toe.,The Veteran's service records show in-service treatment for various conditions including back pain, which is now diagnosed as lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis. The VA examiner opined that his current condition is most likely caused by physical activity during service.

The Veteran's low back disorder, PDD, bilateral hip and knee disorders are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back and neck disorders, finding that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee condition, specifically osteoarthritis, has been granted service connection. His hearing loss has been increased to a rating of 50 percent effective August 16, 2023.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal in October 2024.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, allergic rhinitis, gynecomastia, neck disability, hemorrhage (of the face), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), vitamin deficiency, and major depressive disorder have been dismissed due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder joint disability has been reopened.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was correctly calculated by the RO in May 2022, resulting in a 43 percent rating. The Board finds that this calculation is correct and denies the claim for a higher combined rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left thumb disability, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition, which may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis, left ankle sprain and closed fracture of lateral malleolus, and right ankle sprain were denied. The rating decision assigned a 40% evaluation for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, left hip strain, bilateral knee strains, and bilateral elbow strains. The conditions are considered to have started during service and continued thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address the severity of his service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder is not service-connected as it did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty.,There is no competent and credible evidence establishing that the Veteran currently suffers from a right leg impairment, other than radiculopathy, to include as secondary to a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 2, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show that he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.