Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim for TBI residuals was remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for increased ratings of cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a disability rating of 40 percent for bowel obstruction s/p resections with malabsorption syndrome from short gut prior to June 3, 2022. The claims for earlier effective dates for the evaluations of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical condition, voiding dysfunction, and left knee strain with arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back condition.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, secondary to service-connected disabilities, effective from September 17, 2018. The Veteran was also granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches from September 17, 2018 to January 10, 2020.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection.

The appeal was denied for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder, but service connection was granted for right elbow, lateral epicondylitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any time during the appeal period.

The veteran withdrew her appeal, stating that she now has a 100 percent combined disability rating.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for right knee medial meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis with limited flexion and right knee meniscal tear residuals with degenerative arthritis with limited extension to correct an error in satisfying VA's duty to assist, as the January 2024 VA examination did not adequately comply with the holdings of Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to properly assess the severity of the service-connected left knee disability and to address the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left hamstring condition as secondary to the service-connected left knee condition.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran, and the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis status post meniscal tear and total knee replacement, left lower extremity varicose veins, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as bilateral knee neuropathy), and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as bilateral knee neuropathy) were remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a rating of 100 percent, and service connection for migraines secondary to PTSD was also granted. The other issues were remanded.

The Board grants service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board grants service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board grants service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Board denies service connection for multiple sclerosis.,The Board denies a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for a nose or throat condition, to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip strain, and radiculopathy/sciatica in the left and right lower extremities as secondary to metatarsalgia, bilateral feet due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions.

The Board denied the appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip impairment of the thigh, a compensable rating for left hip limitation of extension, and a compensable rating for left hip labral tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot pes planus, degenerative arthritis, and hallux valgus based on a medical opinion that linked the conditions to the Veteran's active military duty.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and retroactive payments, and remanded the claims for higher initial disability ratings.

The Board denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, granted initial 20 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and remanded claims for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC).