Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of July 16, 2008, for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, diagnosed as status post left knee meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis in the left knee, finding that it had its onset during active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and an earlier effective date, as well as a higher rating for hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right wrist, left shoulder, left foot, and lumbar spine disorders based on their onset during active duty.

The Board granted annual clothing allowances for right and left knee braces and a back brace, but denied allowances for capsaicin cream and Voltaren topical medications.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and a bilateral hearing loss disability, while denying increased ratings for several conditions including GERD, right wrist CTS, left wrist CTS, right knee strain, left knee strain, right shin splint with MTSS, and left shin splint with MTSS. The Board also granted separate ratings of 30 percent, 20 percent, 40 percent, and 10 percent for neurological impairment of the right median nerve associated with CTS, lumbar degenerative arthritis with spondylosis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, respectively.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while the other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted special monthly compensation for loss of use of the right foot and aid and attendance, and restored a 60 percent disability rating for back disability effective April 17, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for Sunscreen SPF 30 as there is no evidence that he was prescribed sunscreen for a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition and left leg radiculopathy, finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected tenia pedis and onychomycosis bilateral feet, denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction and sequelae L4-L5 fusion and bilateral laminectomy to cure a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the restoration of a 50 percent disability rating for the service-connected bilateral flat foot with degenerative arthritis and plantar fasciitis, finding that there had been an improvement in the disability and that the improvement reflected an improvement in the ability to function under the ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder tendinitis, to include degenerative arthritis, as the condition manifested within one year of separation from service and was not attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle tendinitis and impingement syndrome, synovitis, and degenerative arthritis of the left ankle as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was granted, while several other claims for increased ratings were denied. A 10 percent rating was also granted for certain scars starting from September 24, 2021.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and remanded a service connection claim, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or establish service connection.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's back disability, service connection for left leg radiculopathy as secondary to the back disability, and a 10 percent disability rating for recurrent acute sinusitis.