Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, but no higher.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The decision also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscus tear, limitation of motion with arthritis in the left ankle, and limitation of motion with arthritis in the right ankle. The claims are based on continuity of symptoms since active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbar disc disease. The evidence does not support finding that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right little finger disability was denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or functional impairment akin to amputation, and thus no basis for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the claims for gout and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination.,For lumbosacral strain, right knee degenerative arthritis, fatty liver disease (claimed as hepatitis C), and bilateral hearing loss, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are inadequate, necessitating a remand to obtain updated medical opinions addressing the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to service.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for muscle disability, claimed as muscle pain due to Gulf War service. The claims for left foot calcaneal heel spur, left hand tendonitis, right hand tendonitis, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his lumbar spine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the need for a VA examination addressing ankylosis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral feet, bilateral knee, neck, back and right shoulder disabilities to include as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted an increased rating from August 17, 2019 to October 29, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding entitlement to a TDIU as it is moot due to the VA's award of a TDIU for the entire appeal period. The issues of service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been granted a 10 percent rating, effective November 30, 2021, due to painful motion causing functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities are found to have aggravated her bilateral hip osteoarthritis, which is now granted as secondary to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the medical opinions provided, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.