Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's back disability and neck disability were denied increased ratings.,A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee limitation of flexion.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability as secondary to the appellant's service-connected bilateral foot condition, left shoulder strain, and now-granted lumbar spine disability.,The decision also grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, claimed as secondary to his right ankle fracture, is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran's left hip condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board's decision has been vacated due to procedural error, and the appeal is dismissed as a result.

The VA has already granted a 30% rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis effective May 24, 2021. This appeal is dismissed because the November 2021 rating decision was merely an effectuation of the October 2021 Board decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee and lumbar spine arthritis. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an inflammatory bowel disorder and increased rating for right thumb strain. The left knee osteoarthritis case is denied as the Veteran's disability does not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease with urinary problems and related conditions, have rendered him unable to ambulate without the aid of assistive devices. As a result, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, finding that no claim was submitted within one year of her discharge from active duty or prior to February 22, 2021.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 30 percent prior to the decision, is now granted a 60 percent rating due to incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that an examination is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, which may be related to his service-connected right ankle DJD. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development, including obtaining TRICARE records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his left shoulder condition is denied as the earliest possible effective date under law is March 18, 2021.

The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis with bursitis and degenerative joint disease have not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to February 13, 2023 or a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter. He is granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion and another 10 percent rating for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied, and the Board has decided to remand it due to a duty to assist error regarding Social Security records.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective June 26, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The decision does not specify the exact reasons for denial, but it is clear that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for erectile dysfunction due to a lack of current disability diagnosis.,For his low back disability, the Board finds that he is entitled to a 10 percent rating based on Diagnostic Code 5242.