Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of November 10, 2022, for the award of a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis and DDD of the lumbar spine and a 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board granted service connection for IBS, chronic sinusitis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), increased ratings for the lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and increased ratings for knee instability and upper extremity radiculopathy. Tension headaches were also granted an initial rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to correct errors by the AOJ, including obtaining medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's symptoms and medical history.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, right knee and left knee.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis, finding no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claims for secondary service connection for bilateral flatfoot, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the application to readjudicate a previously denied claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, as no new and relevant evidence was submitted. The claims for prostate cancer and bladder disability were remanded for further development.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for service-connected bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction effective June 23, 2022, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including trauma- and stressor-related disorder, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, knee disabilities, and scars.

The Veteran's service connection for erectile dysfunction on a direct basis was granted effective September 27, 2019, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ was also granted from the same date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for back disability, as the earliest possible date was September 26, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis.

The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis for additional development.

The Board denied a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) prior to April 17, 2012, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) prior to April 17, 2012, as well as the effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Veteran's left knee flexion and extension disabilities were granted a 30 percent rating from November 19, 2014, while the left knee osteoarthritis was denied an increased rating.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent right and left hip disabilities, a psychiatric disability to include PTSD, as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy effective June 20, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and right sciatica with an effective date of August 17, 2022, but denied earlier effective dates for prostate disorder and GERD, as well as service connection for diabetes with diabetic neuropathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 USC 1318 as the criteria were not met, and remanded the service connection for cause of death due to inadequate medical evidence.