Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right and left shoulder disabilities is being remanded due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing before the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand osteoarthritis of the first MCP joint, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted disability ratings of 70 percent, 30 percent, and 20 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) respectively, effective November 25, 2020. The ratings for other conditions were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed back disability, degenerative arthritis and DDD, finding that it had its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders to obtain an appropriate medical opinion on their etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that it is etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia were evaluated, but the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent have not been met.,Both knees are rated based on limitation of motion under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (flexion) and 5261 (extension).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence in the March 2022 VA medical examination and a need for additional development regarding the Veteran's National Guard/Reserve service. The AOJ should schedule a new VA examination to determine if any left shoulder disabilities are related to her active duty or Reserve service.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for right knee degenerative arthritis and residuals of right knee total knee arthroplasty, as well as the issue of entitlement to TDIU, due to an inadequate VA examination report.

The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability effective January 31, 2011, but denied an increased rating for bilateral metatarsalgia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition, finding that his current diagnoses are not related to an in-service injury or disease and are more likely due to age-related degeneration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, sciatic neuropathy, and shoulder and knee disabilities have been denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hand, left knee, and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA opinions and failure to comply with prior remand directives. The case is now pending for further review.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a joint pain disorder, bile disorder, fatigue, GERD, and dyspnea. The appeals for increased disability ratings for the right and left knee disabilities and instability were also denied. The TDIU appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck, back, and nerve conditions along with social anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for back disabilities of thoracic spine strain, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative arthritis due to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied the claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence supporting a causal or aggravating relationship between the Veteran's Sjogren Syndrome and medications used to treat her service-connected disabilities, and that the lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.