Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine. Further development is needed as the VA opinions provided are inadequate.

The Board remands the matter to afford the Veteran a new examination to address at what point during range of motion the Veteran experiences pain and functional loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and she meets the requirements for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate. The TDIU is granted based on the combined 100 percent rating of all service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip trochanteric pain syndrome and osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with instability of the coccyx, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with muscular pain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.,The Board has also granted service connection for right hip strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, ulcerative colitis, hiatal hernia, and surgical scars are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of right shoulder strain, as there are insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the feet, and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated by her military service.

The Board has denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar of the lower lumbar spine, as there is only one such scar and it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's tinnitus began during military service and has been continuous since then.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right) is denied because there is no current diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome or any other disorder of the wrists resulting in functional impairment.,Service connection for bilateral ankle osteoarthritis (left and right) is remanded as VA examination was not provided to address the Veteran's lay reports of chronic ankle pain that began in service and has continued since then.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted due to the evidence being at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis had onset during active service, manifested within one year of separation from active service (by December 1998), or was otherwise caused by his reports of chronic knee pain due to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy prior to January 25, 2022 are dismissed as the March 31, 2022 VA Form 10182 was not interpreted as an opt-in to the modernized system.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for left knee disability is denied. The effective date for the award of service connection is set at October 28, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for left wrist disability due to a duty to assist error, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral calcaneal osteophytes, degenerative arthritis at C6-7 level, and a bilateral hand condition due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and schizoaffective disorder have been granted. The claim for shortness of breath (sarcoidosis) is remanded, as is the claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including migraines, urinary dysfunction, and knee and spine issues, due to an impermissible concurrent election under 38 C.F.R. § 3.2500(b).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS and TDIU are being remanded due to new evidence or clarification needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and left knee degenerative arthritis were granted effective June 1, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion on whether the service-connected right knee disability aggravated the Veteran's left knee degenerative osteoarthritis.