Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis with anterolisthesis based on the evidence showing a nexus between the current disability and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's low back condition and right knee condition were granted ratings of 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively, from December 1, 2023. The other conditions for which increased ratings were sought were denied.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and denied increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD limitation of flexion, left shoulder arthritis, and other issues. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and separate 20 percent ratings for right knee instability and right knee DJD limitation of extension.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral cataracts, restrictive lung disease/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, and low back pain/back osteoarthritis. The claim for a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension was denied.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle strain and increased disability ratings to 30 percent for right shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis, right knee arthritic changes, left knee meniscal repair, sinusitis, and vertigo.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several other issues, including a claim for TDIU.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and ratings for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and tendonitis, as well as higher initial disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, sinusitis, and a nerve disorder other than service-connected bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. However, it granted an initial 20 percent rating for left great toe gout and a 50 percent rating for migraines.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for left ankle strain and earlier effective dates of August 24, 1998 for service connection of hammertoes in the feet. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and nerve disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of October 26, 2011, for the award of service connection for a low back condition. The claims for earlier effective dates for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or etiological relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA was granted, while the knee extension ratings were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left hip arthritis due to an error by the agency of original jurisdiction in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Board remands the claim for a left-hand disability, to include numbness and degenerative arthritis, as the VA examination provided is found inadequate.

The appeal for service connection for a disability manifested by difficulty breathing was dismissed as the issue has been fully granted.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied increased ratings for left knee strain, right hand little (5th) finger fracture, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for radiculopathy and additional upper extremity conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and left knee strain to correct a duty to assist error related to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and various ratings, as new evidence was not found to be relevant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, as well as an initial compensable rating.