Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various back conditions, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, and a surgical scar is granted effective from April 22, 2015. The decision also grants service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since June 2014.,The Board finds that the combination of multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and lumbar condition with radiculopathy, has prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as secondary to service-connected neck disability and denied service connection for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for various conditions and revisions to evaluations. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as incurred in service due to noise exposure during military service.,The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as incurred and caused by injuries sustained during active service.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, dismissed the claim for lumbar disability as moot, and remanded the claim for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent, which represents the maximum schedular evaluation for this condition.,The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus and osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (bilateral) are both rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the issues regarding left and right knee degenerative arthritis, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent from July 1, 2019 to October 14, 2019. Service connection for a left knee disability secondary to the right knee disability is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbar disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the VA examinations and concerns about functional ankylosis. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated based on its current severity.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left foot plantar fasciitis prior to January 12, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacies in previous medical opinions and a need for further evidence.

The appeal for bilateral falling arches is dismissed. The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied, and the knee conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial compensable disability ratings for various elbow and knee conditions due to a lack of information regarding the frequency, severity, duration, and characteristics of flare-ups during VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee medial femoral condyle fracture and patellofemoral syndrome, left knee instability, and right knee instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 1, 2024, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection. The Board found the VA opinion inadequate and remanded for further examination regarding his back condition, bilateral knee conditions, and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right little finger disability is denied as the evidence does not support an increase beyond the current 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent for right knee instability from April 2, 2021. The initial rating period remains unchanged at 10 percent for the previous time frame.