Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20 percent rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and strain (neck disability) effective February 1, 2022. The appeal regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability, finding no current diagnosis of such condition and concluding that any symptoms were related to his right knee.

The Veteran's GERD and Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine were both denied as they do not warrant a higher evaluation based on the current evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his active service. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 50 percent, effective December 6, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis in the back and bronchial asthma are remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The current ratings are based on the evidence showing forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asthma and left knee degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of adequate VA examinations. The AOJ is directed to attempt to obtain active duty service treatment records from September 1983 to December 1987 and schedule a VA examination to address the claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because a spurious rating decision was issued in March 2021, which is prohibited by law.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 28, 2019 for the grant of service connection for left hip osteoarthritis status post total replacement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine was granted with an effective date of November 30, 2017.

The Veteran's left knee condition, including osteoarthritis and symptomatic semilunar cartilage removal, is rated at a minimum of 10 percent. The Veteran was granted a separate rating for the symptomatic semilunar cartilage removal.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) has been dismissed as the issues have already been adjudicated in a separate Board decision.,The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis has also been dismissed.

The Board has granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status due to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and additional disabilities that combine to at least 60 percent disabling. However, SMC based on aid and attendance is denied as there is no evidence of actual requirements for personal assistance from others.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 24, 2011, for service connection of lumbar spine disability and denied his claims for service connection of hypertension and hyperthyroidism. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his disability and determine if there is ankylosis during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected feet disabilities are inextricably intertwined and requires further examination to clarify the current diagnoses and their impact on rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision.