Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the February 2025 rating decision. The Board will consider new evidence during the remand process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis with status post lumbar decompression.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, effective April 20, 2026. Service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar disability is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the initial rating decision and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service or caused by his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed as untimely.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disability and back disability due to a lack of treatment records establishing chronicity, faulty review of the Veteran's record, and pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's request for increased ratings for his right knee and hip disabilities, as well as a TDIU, was denied. The right knee rating is denied due to failure to report for a VA examination without good cause shown.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (alcohol use disorder with major depressive disorder) did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

Service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is granted as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica have been dismissed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted from September 16, 2011.,The Veteran's SMC based on housebound criteria has been granted effective from March 13, 2024.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed as a matter of law due to a full grant of benefits. The appeals for left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis from 10 percent to 10 percent effective January 8, 2025.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia due to potential aggravation by her service-connected disabilities. The RO must obtain medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions were aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between his military service and these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, and the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is rated at 50% effective October 14, 2024.,Effective October 14, 2024, the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis is rated at 50%. Prior to this date, a higher rating was denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of peripheral vestibular disorder with dizziness/vertigo, depressive disorder, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis all from July 4, 2023.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient opinions regarding service connection for a bilateral foot condition. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus is not considered aggravated by service, but his current foot conditions are related to his service-connected hip and knee conditions.

The Veteran's right hip disability, characterized by trochanteric bursitis with degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent since July 27, 2010. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective October 23, 2024.