Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, but denied service connection for restless leg syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and right knee joint osteoarthritis, as well as a separate 20% rating for erectile dysfunction. The Board denied an increased disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II but granted service connection for bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis and right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy for accrued benefits purposes, finding that the Veteran's neck manifestations began during and have continued since service and were at least as likely as not caused by service.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the right thumb, effective from December 16, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder), and plantar fasciitis of the feet. The claim for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher disability ratings and denied service connection for swelling of leg/foot, as well as increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from February 19, 2022, but denied higher ratings. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the increased 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for increased ratings of degenerative arthritis of the spine, left and right knee strains with flexion and extension limitations.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, with degenerative arthritis due to an improper reduction in the disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right thumb disability, left wrist scars, and right thumb scar.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with herniated disc at L3-L5 and IVDS, denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left ankle sprain and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and granted earlier effective dates for service connection for certain conditions.

The Board granted an extension of the temporary total rating for right knee surgery, denied initial and increased ratings for degenerative arthritis right knee, limitation of flexion, granted a separate 30 percent rating for right knee instability prior to January 29, 2021, and a 20 percent rating from that date, and dismissed appeals for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 1, 2018.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis with fibula fracture, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The appeal concerning the service connection for right knee, lumbar spine, left knee, and hypertension has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The appeal of the issues regarding increased disability evaluations for left and right knee conditions were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the notice of disagreement.

The Board remands the case for further development and readjudication of the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his lumbar spine condition.

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

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left trochanteric bursitis, and right trochanteric pain syndrome as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board also granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left hip disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability but remanded the claim for a right hip disorder.