Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for increased ratings of various knee and toe conditions, as well as associated scars.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees as there was no evidence that these conditions began during active service, were manifest to a compensable degree within one year following service discharge, or were otherwise related to an injury, event, or disease in service.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, thoracolumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for left hip iliotibial band syndrome, right hip iliotibial band syndrome, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the left hip condition.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 22, 2023, for the award of service connection and increased ratings for right and left lower extremity neuropathy. The claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was readjudicated, and a higher initial disability rating was assigned. The appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability with limitation of extension and instability, as well as a TDIU claim, to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing secondary service connection.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include knee joint osteoarthritis and instability, due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and missing service treatment records.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder, labral tear, including SLAP (superior labral anterior-posterior lesion), glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial disability ratings and effective dates related to various conditions, including lumbar spine, sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder. The decision also granted a 60 percent rating for left knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2016.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for an opiate dependency disorder is dismissed, and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. Several other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 4, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for lumbar spine disability, an initial compensable rating for right knee limitation of flexion, an initial compensable rating for left knee limitation of flexion, effective dates prior to March 4, 2021, for separate ratings for left and right knee limitations of flexion, and a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty to assist errors.

The veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including claims for service connection and disability ratings.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service, including parachute jumps during service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of right and left knee joint osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the June 2022 VA opinion.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for left knee extension and a separate 10 percent rating for instability, while denying an increased rating for flexion.

The Board granted service connection for a right heel strain, neck disability, lower back disability, left shoulder disability, and right foot disability based on their etiological relation to in-service injuries.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and a compensable rating for various service-connected conditions, as well as remanded the claim for TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis, right lower radiculopathy, and tinnitus, and assigned a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine, while denying increased ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and hearing loss.