Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or associated objective neurological abnormalities. The current 20% rating is maintained.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement, migraine headaches, internal derangement of the right ankle, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain in the lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, left knee meniscectomy residuals, and left knee instability was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at June 14, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip strain and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions that consider his lay statements about the onset of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will consider whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted, and he receives an initial disability rating of 60 percent for GERD. Other conditions receive increased or separate ratings.

An effective date of March 31, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right and left knee instability is granted.,A TDIU is granted based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the rating decisions on appeal for hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, back disability, and sleep disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding no probative medical evidence that indicates the Veteran's current left shoulder condition was incurred during active duty service or during the presumptive period after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated the right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been secured for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, warranting reconsideration of their service connection claims. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for chronic kidney disease and an increased rating for chronic epididymo-orchitis.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and remands the case for additional examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including L5-S1 and C3-C7 degenerative disc disease, lumbar scoliosis, lumbar spondylosis/osteoarthritis, and spinal cord impingement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since October 26, 2018. An effective date of this day is granted for the award of TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The claims for lower back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The appeal for service connection of thoracic spine degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The issues of right hip disability and left hip disability are remanded.

The appellant's appeals for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates for his right hand conditions have been dismissed due to the concurrent election of review.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right hip pain and a temporary total evaluation due to treatment for a service-connected condition requiring convalescence. The AOJ needs to correct any pre-decisional duty to assist errors, particularly regarding the lack of medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's right hip pain.