Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, a cervical condition as secondary to the claimed lumbar degenerative changes, and bilateral upper extremity nerve conditions as secondary to a cervical disability.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including a back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraine headaches, among others. It also granted increased ratings for PTSD and moderate, recurrent, major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for cervical strain and a separate 10 percent rating for limited lateral excursion range of motion due to TMJD, while denying an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and dismissing the claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis as moot.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for bilateral shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis with chronic pain were partially granted, allowing an effective date of November 4, 2018, but no earlier.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis, finding the evidence to be in equipoise.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings on all claims due to untimely Notices of Disagreement.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle strain, right plantar spur, and bilateral hallux valgus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left and right hip degenerative arthritis affecting various aspects of joint function.

The Board denied service connection for metabolic syndrome and remanded claims for diabetes, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and tension headaches due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral flat foot (pes planus) to include plantar fasciitis, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and right knee tendonitis. Bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for an intestinal disability, manifesting as irregular bowel movements causing impairment in earning capacity. The Veteran was also denied a higher initial rating for low back pain with degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and strain, but granted a 10 percent rating from March 30, 2024, for tension headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, back and foot conditions, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral neuropathy below the hips, and a skin disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with total knee replacement due to a lack of adequate medical evidence and procedural deficiencies.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with AC osteoarthritis and remanded the claims for bilateral hand condition, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, with effective dates from March 15, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis status-post total left knee replacement, and residual scar of the left knee as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for both the left and right hip disabilities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, finding no evidence linking them to any incident of service.