Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right hip disabilities but granted a 20 percent rating from December 30, 2023, for right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service-connected right ankle degenerative arthritis status post ankle fracture, right shoulder status post labrum tear repair, and tinnitus, as there was no prior communication regarding a claim for disability benefits.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) radicular pain and parasthesia, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, and noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a higher rating for special monthly compensation were also denied.

The Board granted service connection and initial disability ratings for the veteran's psychiatric disorder, back disability, bilateral leg radiculopathy, right shoulder, right knee, left ankle, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to March 31, 2021, for the Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability and assigned a 100% rating. The left ankle degenerative arthritis was rated at 30% from October 1, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection awards, finding that the appropriate effective date was May 4, 1998, when he first filed a claim specifically for a back disability.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability to obtain an adequate VA examination due to deficiencies in the May 2021 examination report.

The Board granted an effective date prior to December 20, 2019, for a 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity sciatica and left lower extremity sciatica. The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings assigned for a lumbar spine disability and left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability. Service connection was also granted for fecal incontinence.

The Board denied service connection for a rib deformity, and remanded the claims for left (minor) shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal seeking increased ratings for the service-connected right and left knee disabilities is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lower back based on evidence that the condition was incurred in service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis prior to January 14, 2025, and denied higher ratings for the other conditions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his back and left knee disabilities to ensure compliance with its previous remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for various conditions, as no evidence was found to support a claim prior to September 28, 2023.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, but other claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right foot and ankle disabilities, as they are already rated at the maximum schedular evaluation available under the amputation rule.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain and lumbar radiculopathy, but the increased ratings were denied.