Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining his complete military records and ensuring he had a separation examination. The right shoulder condition claim is being remanded for an additional VA examination, while the sleep apnea claim requires a medical opinion.

Your appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw your appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and thoracolumbar spine scoliosis was granted a 40 percent rating on and after February 3, 2021. The prior period remains denied.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at a 40 percent effective December 24, 2020.,VA also granted Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits from the same date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and prostate cancer residuals, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded both issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability due to inadequate examination and reasonable possibility of aiding in substantiating his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The effective dates for service connection are being dismissed as they were final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis should be remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the back with spinal stenosis is remanded due to incomplete records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the February 2021 VA medical opinion. The Veteran's service-connected back disability and gunshot wound residuals are alleged to have aggravated his bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of meniscal tears with degenerative arthritis had their onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, including left knee limitation of motion, low back strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis, right shoulder tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and raticulopathy left lower extremity. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obesity caused or aggravated his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than November 15, 2002 for service connection of bilateral foot degenerative arthritis and bilateral hand sprains were denied as the law does not allow for an earlier effective date based on final disallowance.

The Board has identified a duty to assist error and remands the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine due to an inadequate VA examination opinion. The Veteran's work as a combat engineer is being evaluated again.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces, used to treat his service-connected left and right knee conditions, caused wear and tear on his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for calendar year 2020 based on this finding.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation with osteoarthritis and glenohumeral joint dislocation, effective September 2, 2020. The issue of service connection prior to that date remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's osteomyelitis and his service-connected left zygoma fracture. The appellant asserts that the cause of death was related to the service-connected condition.