Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left long finger disability and remanded claims for service connection for left and right knee joint osteoarthritis.

The veteran was granted a 30 percent evaluation for right knee tendinitis with degenerative arthritis, effective January 26, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left ankle disability manifested by pain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right hand, first and second digits, as secondary to a service-connected condition. The issue of a higher disability rating for the service-connected wrist condition was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and anxiety, and assigned a 30 percent rating for asthma (previously rated as COPD) effective March 31, 2022. Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis and higher ratings were denied for episodic sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, left knee scar status post medial compartment arthroplasty, major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, left knee osteochondritis dissecans and osteoarthritis status post medial compartment arthroplasty, and right knee osteoarthritis status post posterior cruciate ligament tear. The only grant was for a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability from January 14, 2023.

The Board remands the issue of whether the discontinuance of a separate 10 percent rating for post-operative right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear residuals was proper, as further VA evaluation is needed to determine the nature and severity of the service-connected right knee disability on June 1, 2022.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for left and right hip degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence supports a direct link between the in-service injury and the current disabilities.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to bilateral knee disabilities, as new VA examinations are needed to adequately evaluate the current severity of his conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to May 4, 2022, for a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, spinal stenosis, and neck injury with cervical degenerative disc disease and severe pain based on credible lay statements and medical evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for osteoarthritis of the right little finger and a rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the right thumb, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis and denied initial disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and right hip condition, both as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and assigned a 40 percent rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis prior to August 29, 2019.

The Veteran's four left shoulder post-surgical scars are granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The remaining claims for increased ratings are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.