Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and L1 compression fracture, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective June 15, 2021, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates as the benefits sought have been granted in full.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and service connection were dismissed due to concurrent elections under the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, restoration of his rating for left ankle scarring, and an increased rating for his left Achilles tendon rupture with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for compensable evaluations for right hip osteoarthritis/trochanteric pain syndrome with limited extension and right hip osteoarthritis/trochanteric pain syndrome with thigh impairment were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of limitation in motion or other symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as well as lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requests that the Veteran provide information about any private treatment providers he has used.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower leg radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower leg radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) was granted effective May 7, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence did not support readjudication of these claims. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran's single service-connected condition (hiatal hernia) did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist disability is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for an updated examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disorder and his service, as well as its relation to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which includes strain and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion remains limited to 70 degrees at worst.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase due to incomplete STRs, duty to assist errors, and inadequate VA medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete STRs and military personnel records, as well as adequate VA medical examinations and opinions that consider all evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability, requiring further evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected right knee instability and status post right knee meniscus repair.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected conditions and if it is aggravated by those conditions or medications taken for them.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 17, 2020 for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right femoral nerve radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's timely submission of a complete claim within one year of receipt of an incomplete application form.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis may be related to service, but needs further examination and opinion to make a determination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and bilateral sciatic/femoral radiculopathy were denied. The current rating of 20 percent for chronic lumbar syndrome, status post L4-5 lumbar discectomy/fusion with degenerative arthritis from February 14, 2019, to March 10, 2020, was maintained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left hip degenerative arthritis and his sleep apnea. The VA will seek additional medical records and an opinion from a clinician.