Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including an abdominal tear, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disability, right hamstring tendonitis, and a right hip strain, as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries, diseases, or events related to these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both knees and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis with left heel spur, as well as the TDIU claim, to obtain further evidence.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine, effective September 28, 2020, and granted service connection for fibromyalgia. The other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back disability, to include lumbosacral strain and thoracic strain, and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 12, 1982, for the award of service connection for a back disability based on the Veteran's informal claim.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee osteoarthritis, and left ankle sprain, while denying service connection for hypertension. The Board also granted an initial 20% rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome but denied compensable ratings for bilateral pinguecula and a right ring finger disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and left hip osteoarthritis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or are otherwise related to active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Veteran was granted an initial 70 percent evaluation for right hip osteoarthritis with residuals of right hip replacement from October 1, 2019 to the present.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches effective June 12, 2019. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with right foot degenerative arthritis, and left, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, to include osteoarthritis with bursitis and strain, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not support a positive nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current shoulder conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's lay statements and the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and remanded the claim for a heart disability, while denying service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, but remanded claims for left and right hip conditions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether it is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.