Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted restoration of the 30% rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, spondylosis, and cervical strain, as well as the 30% and 40% ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, respectively. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, remanding some issues for further development.

The Board remands the claims for right shoulder and back pain to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the Veteran's work as a welder and in-service injury.

The Board denied a rating more than 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and granted an effective date of April 12, 2022, for service connection for radiculopathy left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) and right lower extremity (sciatic nerve).

The Board remands the case to obtain another VA examination that includes passive range of motion findings for a more accurate assessment of the severity of the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, with effective dates of June 8, 2015 and November 19, 2018 respectively. The Board also granted a rating of 40 percent for IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as of March 24, 2022.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and higher initial evaluations for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, actinic keratoses, plantar fasciitis, basal cell carcinoma, and various musculoskeletal issues.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for the Veteran's fracture of the L1 transverse process with degenerative arthritis and also denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claims for further development to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the April 2022 and May 2023 rating decisions on appeal.

The Board granted ratings of 30 percent or higher for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right shoulder strain, left elbow olecranon bursitis, right elbow olecranon bursitis, and headaches. Service connection was also granted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under the PACT Act.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, granted service connection for tinnitus, and denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for the left wrist ganglion cyst, status post repair with degenerative arthritis, effective September 26, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 21, 2019, for a disability rating of 30 percent for left knee meniscal tear, ACL tear, and osteoarthritis status post left total knee replacement.

The Board denied a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis and non-compensable ratings for right knee flexion, but granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, as well as a TDIU.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 5, 2023, for a 100 percent rating for MDD and SMC based on housebound criteria. However, it granted service connection for right ear painful scar, right ear surgical scar, and sleep apnea with an effective date of November 30, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for right hip disability and cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and acute cervical strain post motor vehicle accident without residuals due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran was granted a separate 30 percent rating for syringomyelia, but the claims for higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and for separate or compensable ratings for sinus conditions were denied.