Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from December 15, 2020 to April 26, 2022 due to service-connected major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and readjudicating the cases.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor. The other claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including left and right elbow disabilities, left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, right foot callus, and right knee instability. The decision also restored the 10 percent rating for left knee instability and right elbow radial head fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis and unspecified ligament tear, finding that the evidence did not support higher initial evaluations.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and initial compensable rating due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his right knee disability and associated scars.

The Board granted a higher rating of 30 percent for right shoulder arthritis effective February 1, 2024, and denied ratings higher than 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis, higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, higher than 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion, higher than 10 percent for right knee instability, and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities from August 6, 2024, but denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to that date. The claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, tinnitus, and knee disabilities were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for right and left hip osteoarthritis, finding that his original claim was not properly raised prior to January 23, 2023.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's right and left hip disabilities, as well as initial disability ratings of 30 percent for each.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was denied a rating in excess of 40 percent, but TDIU was granted due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted special monthly compensation at the rate authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) and remanded claims for SMC based on housebound status and an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and bilateral foot conditions, prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment from August 31, 2010, to January 30, 2011.

The Board granted service connection for right knee and leg, left knee and leg, and low back disabilities based on the evidence showing a direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance beginning November 19, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis as moot, given that he has already been awarded a 100% combined schedular rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral leg condition, and left lower extremity radiculopathy but granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.