Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, low back disability, knee strains, foot disability, and others, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, while remanding claims for muscular dystrophy and special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, finding a link between the Veteran's condition and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and various ratings in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and left ulnar tunnel syndrome. However, a 20 percent rating was granted for the left ulnar tunnel syndrome.

The Board granted an evaluation of 40 percent for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, 20 percent for the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and 40 percent for the status-post arthroscopy for adhesive capsulitis & debridement of partial labral tear (right shoulder) from June 2, 2021, to January 28, 2024.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis with patellar spur, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and to consider additional entitlement theories.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left ankle strain and right ankle strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees, finding that her in-service complaints were acute and transitory and that there was no evidence linking her current condition to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left side sciatica was granted, and several issues were remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension on and after April 4, 2021, and a 20 percent rating for left knee instability on and after March 1, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for the knees were denied.

The Board reinstated the 40% rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine effective January 1, 2021. The application to readjudicate service connection for a right hip disability was denied.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, cervical spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease, and left-hand carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied, as well as the claim for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, while denying other claims. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability in both knees, and denied a TDIU.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, but granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2023 for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board remands the claims for a new medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left arm condition and the current severity of her right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis as there was no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar scoliosis, but remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine, IVDS, and degenerative disc disease, left hip disability, right hip disability, and left leg radiculopathy.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve radiculopathy, and left knee instability while granting a 10% rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy from January 24, 2019, to August 30, 2019, and a 20% rating for left knee disability with instability beginning on that date. The Board also granted an initial 100% rating for major depressive disorder (MDD) effective February 5, 2021.