Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral tinnitus disability and an acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for left eye glaucoma and denied increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee surgical scars. The claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and status post reconstructive surgery, as well as for bilateral hearing loss, were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and higher initial ratings for right ankle degenerative arthritis disability, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left and right knee strain disability, as well as a TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbar strain DDD and remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to a need for additional development.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to correct duty-to-assist errors that occurred prior to the August 2022 rating decision.

The Board granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis and an effective date of September 17, 2017, for DEA benefits.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to unavailable service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation more than 20 percent for a cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right heel spur, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to an upper back disability and plantar fasciitis, and sleep disturbances.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee disability with painful motion and degenerative arthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically the failure to provide a VA examination or opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The claims for service connection for an eye condition, vertigo/dizziness, GERD/reflux, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right wrist degenerative joint disease, left wrist degenerative joint disease, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, a right foot condition, a left foot condition, and a right achilles tendon/ankle condition were denied. The claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease/high blood pressure, sinusitis, headaches, allergic rhinitis, and a skin condition were remanded.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and thoracic spondylosis. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to November 7, 2002, for service-connected spondylolisthesis and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, bilateral spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and left and right shoulder trapezius muscle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment prior to June 14, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability, as secondary to a service-connected neck disability, due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including verification of periods of service and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected peripheral vestibular disorder from December 13, 2020, to September 25, 2023, an earlier effective date of December 13, 2020, for the establishment of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from April 13, 2023, to September 25, 2023.