Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board grants service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, posterior neck scar, neurological impairments of all extremities, hypopharyngeal mucosa laceration with residual dysphagia and esophagus dysfunction, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, as secondary to service-connected spinal disabilities.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and remanded the other issues for further development.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right and left foot pes planus and degenerative arthritis effective May 19, 2021, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to April 19, 2023, but dismissed the appeal for a higher rating from that date. The decision also denied special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a rating in excess of 20 percent for a thoracolumbar spine disability, characterized as degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, and a TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with acute TBI was increased from 50% to 70%, but no higher, while other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for right knee instability, effective March 11, 2024, and an earlier effective date of May 24, 2021, for a TDIU rating. SMC aid and attendance was also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as the evidence did not support a claim prior to August 27, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, tension headaches, and a separate 10 percent rating for RIGHT knee instability, effective October 19, 2018. The increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, neck disability, anemia, right shoulder impingement and degenerative arthritis, back scars, stenosis and facet joint hypertrophy of the lumbar spine and chronic thoracic myalgia, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claim for a right shoulder disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion, as the previous opinions were found inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for urinary incontinence and restored a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, while denying several other claims.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a rating above 10 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal was denied as it was not timely filed, and good cause for an extension of time to file the appeal has not been shown.

The Board granted service connection for Graves' disease, osteoporosis/osteopenia of the left hip, right hip degenerative arthritis and osteoporosis, and osteoporosis/osteopenia of the lower back.

The Board denied an effective date prior to March 16, 2023, for the award of a 10 percent rating for right knee meniscal tear osteoarthritis.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy as it has not manifested in moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a chronic disability of the thoracolumbar spine to correct duty to assist errors.