Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis were denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings and service connection related to various back, knee, and respiratory conditions due to a lack of a valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filed by the Veteran or their representative.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and bilateral varicose veins, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities, which have rendered him wheelchair dependent and unable to perform daily tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lower back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the right knee and scar disability claims, requiring VA examinations to be conducted for proper evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions have been dismissed as the Board has already granted these ratings effective October 23, 2013.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip strain, as it may be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective November 15, 2019. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of his most recent VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's rating for his back disability was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective May 1, 2022. The reduction is granted as the evidence showed a sustained improvement in his condition that could be maintained under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for a back condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus is found related to noise exposure during service, while his back disability requires further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder bursitis as secondary to left shoulder bursitis and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis cervical spine (claimed as cervical spine pain) as secondary to left shoulder bursitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis. The issues have not been decided yet.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board will seek new opinions to determine if the conditions are related to service.

Service connection for hypercholesterolemia, microscopic hematuria, bilateral hearing loss, tinea versicolor, psoriatic arthritis of the knees, shoulders, and ankles, a bilateral shoulder disability (including psoriatic arthritis and bilateral lateral collateral ligament sprain), and a bilateral ankle disability (including psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis) is denied.,The Veteran's hypercholesterolemia and microscopic hematuria are not service-connected as they were preexisting conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, but the claims for right knee arthritis and osteoarthritis of both hips are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis, including consideration of a separate rating for left knee instability, is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The examination must be conducted to determine the severity of the service-connected left knee osteoarthritis in connection with the partial left knee meniscus tear and whether it is related to the Veteran's service-connected condition.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 4, 2019 for the Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran was previously denied this claim in May 2019 and appealed it.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain lower back, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.