Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of October 9, 2020 for the service connection of left shoulder strain, glenohumeral joint dislocation, status-post Bankart procedure; right shoulder strain; left shoulder residual scar; right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis; and right knee strain.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for sleep apnea and left shoulder degenerative arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are aggravated by service-connected PTSD or lumbar spine conditions.

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee and lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle.,Service connection for a right hip disability, including degenerative arthritis and right hip strain, is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to an in-service injury and symptomatology.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent prior to May 17, 2021 and at 30 percent from October 1, 2021. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the March 2006 rating decision was final and no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim prior to September 30, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective March 28, 2021. The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve also receives a 20 percent disability rating from that date.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's neck disability and remanded the claim for service connection of OSA. The decision also found that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's OSA is related to his active duty service, including exposure to toxic substances in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board denied a combined rating in excess of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, as the overall combined rating is 60 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral knee conditions are found to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation, but his claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability was denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, and there was insufficient evidence to warrant referral for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted.,The Veteran's left knee condition and right arm conditions (right elbow and right shoulder) are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

Effective December 1, 2021, the Veteran is granted increased ratings of 30 percent for ankylosis in both right and left knees. The previous separate rating for instability of the left knee was also granted.

The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 3, 2014, as the evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, other than bilateral foot arthritis (i.e., right knee and bilateral hand arthritis), due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's GERD, lumbar spine condition, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability are all granted service connection.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis are currently rated at 40 percent. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.,The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both currently rated at 40 percent. The appeals are denied as the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder pain require additional development due to a lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its secondary relationship to PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the right and left knee, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, right and left ankle conditions, and nasal bone fracture residuals due to a duty to assist error.