Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied compensation benefits for prostate biopsy and colonoscopy residuals, as well as service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, left elbow arthritis, right elbow arthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions. The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with a 70% evaluation effective February 27, 2023, and increased the ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis to 30 percent and residuals of foot injury to 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle Achilles tendonitis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, IVDS and spinal stenosis, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The claim for right foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis was dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the appeal, affirming the severance of service connection for various conditions due to clear and unmistakable errors in the prior decision.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to a lumbar spine disability on a secondary aggravation basis, but remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability on a basis other than secondary aggravation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic cervical strain, to include degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. The claim for service connection for chronic anemia and chronic kidney disease was remanded.

The Board denied the claim for clear and unmistakable error in the January 31, 2017 rating decision and also denied entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral foot, left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities but granted a separate 30 percent rating for right knee limited extension and TDIU.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including left knee limitation of extension, left knee (subluxation/instability), left knee degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis, left upper cervical radiculopathy, and headaches associated with a traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot hallux valgus, pes planus, hammertoes, and degenerative arthritis, with an effective date of February 19, 2019. The Board also granted an increased (40 percent) rating for residuals, rupture, right biceps tendon with elbow limitation of supination and extension.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral foot and hands as further development is needed to address the Veteran's reported pain and functional impairment.

The Board granted a 10 percent initial rating for hypertension and denied higher ratings or service connection for the other conditions.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome, 10 percent for chronic sinusitis, 50 percent for tension headaches, and 30 percent for left shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted a 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, but denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling, and the claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, a back disability, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral nerve condition are remanded.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, prior to August 6, 2021, for left ankle degenerative arthritis and denied an increased rating above 20 percent since August 6, 2021.

The Board remands the issues of an increased rating for osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for status post reconstruction of right nasal side-wall defect with advancement flap with pharyngitis and remanded the other issues.