Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability, but denied increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 29, 2015, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral/thoracic paraspinal lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed, and the Veteran's claim for TDIU has been granted in full with an effective date of May 1, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no nexus between the current disabilities and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of current disabilities or functional impairment.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee disabilities but granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic residuals of a right knee meniscectomy.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the inadequacies of previous examinations and obtain any relevant private treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot deterioration and service connection for secondary right foot disabilities to correct a pre-decisional error by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis status post left reverse total shoulder replacement and biceps tenodesis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a scar on the lumbar spine.

The appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to November 20, 2021 and higher than 40 percent from November 20, 2021 for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylosis of the thoracic spine was dismissed as withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability from August 12, 2008 to November 3, 2013 and denied higher ratings for the left quadriceps muscle injury with left knee tendon repair and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 22 to April 30, 2015.

The Board remands the matter for additional evidentiary development and to ensure proper handling of the supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied higher ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, left leg radiculopathy, hemorrhoids, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and denied higher ratings for right and left knee conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions and granted service connection for a few others, including tinea pedis, bilateral dry eye syndrome, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability (secondary), right knee disability (secondary), and right ankle disability (secondary).

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issue of a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's low back disability, as the most recent examination report is deemed inadequate.