Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD has also been granted service connection, but the hypertension secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus remain pending issues.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and a parameniscal cyst. The new evidence submitted since the January 2019 rating decision supports the relationship between the appellant's current right knee disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, finding that his service-connected right knee arthritis contributed to the development of this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to procedural issues and lack of merit in his arguments.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and its relationship to service or a service-connected condition. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied prior to May 24, 2019. The appeal period from May 24, 2019, results in a remanded case as the current 10 percent evaluation does not reflect moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is also remanded due to procedural errors and the need for an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, left and right ankle tendonitis, and lumbar degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's heart disability, respiratory disability, diabetes mellitus, and various peripheral neuropathies and radiculopathies are not service-connected. The cervical spine disability is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status or need for aid and attendance, nor does he qualify for specially adapted housing.

The Board has granted a 20 percent initial rating for gout with bilateral hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, effective from April 28, 2017.

The Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The right shoulder strain and left shoulder osteoarthritis are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the record existing prior to the May 2019 rating decision. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, obesity, or another factor.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her back disabilities is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, but has found that there are issues with service connection for left knee osteoarthritis without dysplasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to missing private treatment records from Dr. S.M. at South Shore Medical Center, which are necessary for a complete evaluation of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the claims for higher disability ratings for various foot and knee disabilities. The issue of entitlement to an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is also remanded due to its interrelated nature with the remanded claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability (diagnosed as cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis) based on the Veteran's credible assertions of neck pain during service and continued symptoms after separation.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, degenerative changes/spondylosis of the lumbar region, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee were denied service connection as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

Effective dates of April 8, 2003, for service connection were granted for degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine; radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity; radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity; radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity; radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity. Effective date of May 17, 2012, for service connection was granted for a traumatic brain injury with posttraumatic headaches. An effective date prior to February 8, 2016, for urinary incontinence was denied.,An earlier effective date of April 8, 2003, is granted for the awards of service connection for disabilities of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. An effective date of May 17, 2012, is granted for the award of service connection for posttraumatic headaches due to traumatic brain injury. No earlier effective date is granted for urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is found to be related to his active-duty service and has been granted service connection.