Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of April 10, 2015, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 10, 2015, to June 1, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding SSA records.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine to obtain a new medical opinion that considers an in-service injury after appropriate efforts are made to obtain the appellant's service treatment records.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for right elbow degenerative arthritis with medial epicondylitis, but the claim for a compensable rating for left elbow degenerative arthritis with medial epicondylitis was denied.

The veteran withdrew all pending appeals on April 28, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are causally linked to his in-service injuries sustained during active duty for training.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for increased disability ratings and higher initial disability ratings, leading to their dismissal.

The Board granted service connection for a left hip disability and a right hip disability, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid arthritis with acetabular cyst status post right total hip replacement, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, fever sores, and a compromised immune system, as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board remands the issues of increased rating for back disability, service connection for sleep apnea, left heel, and hemorrhoids, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 1, 2025, for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorders, polycythemia vera, and hand and finger disorders as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, continuity of symptomatology, or a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims for bilateral tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a deviated septum and right wrist pain, while denying service connection for sleep apnea. The decision also addressed various rating issues and effective dates.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee conditions, as well as a compensable rating for scars of the right knee.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to an in-service bicycle accident.

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and right middle finger strain with degenerative arthritis. The claim for tuberculosis was denied.

The Board granted an initial, 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis with lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, and the effective date for the award of a 30 percent rating for limited flexion in the left knee was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 27, 2023, for the award of service connection for left ankle osteoarthritis and remanded a claim for a higher disability evaluation.