Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy to schedule a VA examination.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, with PTSD; a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar spine disability); and initial ratings of 40 percent each for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, a 20 percent rating or higher for the same condition, and any other initial ratings for the right knee disability under other Diagnostic Codes pertaining to the knee and leg. A 10 percent rating was granted for allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that the criteria for a higher rating were met or approximated.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and left arm disabilities to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and left knee osteoarthritis, but granted service connection for right knee condition and right elbow lateral epicondylitis based on new evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis to afford the Veteran a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for the right knee disability under Diagnostic Code 5259, effective August 15, 2016, and denied other claims related to service connection and ratings for the right knee.

The Board remands the claim for a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as the VA examiners' opinions relied on erroneous information and did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his post-service symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and secondary service connections for insomnia / sleep problems, headache disorder, and RIGHT knee osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae of the skin was denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities from November 2, 2006, but denied a higher rating for lumbar spine strain with mild osteoarthritis and mild stenosis. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from November 2, 2006.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right hip disabilities and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board remands the claims for higher evaluations of lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the right leg to provide an adequate examination that considers the ameliorative effects of medication with regard to range of motion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of right shoulder mild osteoarthritis with calcified lymph nodes to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding direct service connection and TERA.

The Board denied increased ratings for asthma with COPD, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left and right knee disabilities, and left and right ankle disabilities. However, TDIU was granted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various hand and wrist conditions due to a need for new VA addendum opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and a left shoulder disability, but denied increased ratings for PTSD and TMD, as well as service connections for chronic sinusitis, respiratory insufficiency, dyspnea, CFS, fibromyalgia, dermatitis, functional abdominal pain syndrome, bloating, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, IBS, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for right knee tendonitis/tendonosis with degenerative arthritis and restored the 20 percent rating for left ankle degenerative arthritis effective July 1, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for left carpel tunnel syndrome, right carpel tunnel syndrome, left knee ACL tear s/p knee meniscus tear repair (also claimed as gout), and right knee osteoarthritis (also claimed as gout).

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities.