Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left iliotibial band friction syndrome (claimed as left knee injury) was dismissed due to a concurrent election error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for obstructive sleep apnea which was granted, and granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claim for a left hip disability as secondary to service-connected conditions due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, Meniere's syndrome, gynecological condition, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's back disability is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, but not higher. The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate, effective May 22, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for earlier effective dates for the separate ratings of sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied, as well as the remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, finding that June 29, 2021, was the earliest possible date of claim.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis, but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for the other conditions.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent disability rating for his left ankle degenerative arthritis from July 1, 2023, to April 5, 2024, but the claim for a compensable disability rating for surgical scars was denied.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an initial evaluation of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain.

The veteran was granted a 70 percent initial rating for somatic symptom disorder, and a 20 percent initial rating for intervertebral disc syndrome lumbosacral spine. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, due to an inadequate VA examination and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee strain (chronic left knee pain), and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease (CAD), and impotency/erectile dysfunction, all from March 14, 2014.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cervical intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis status post arthrodesis was granted, and the veteran was awarded a TDIU effective January 11, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbosacral strain and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, left knee degenerative arthritis, and degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, including left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee tendinopathy, left knee tendinopathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and plantar fasciitis in both feet.