Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The appeal for a rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied, while the claims for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right hip, and right renal atrophy with renal insufficiency as secondary to the Veteran's left knee disability. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability, but remanded claims for mental health disability, substance abuse, type two diabetes mellitus (DMII), hormonal imbalance, bilateral glaucoma, and left knee disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee, lumbar spine, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities but granted TDIU from September 14, 2020, to November 20, 2022, and from June 21, 2023, to July 30, 2024.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD but granted individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remanded several claims for service connection and initial ratings, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy middle radicular group as secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, peripheral neuropathy of the left hand, peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, lumbosacral strain, a left knee scar, and a right knee scar. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed as moot.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee disability from September 1, 2021, as it was factually ascertainable that his symptoms more nearly approximated chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion in the right lower extremity during this period.

The Board denied service connection for left leg arthritis, back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities but granted a 70 percent rating for the psychiatric disability from January 4, 2019.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his left shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tear repair and hemiarthroplasty, denied an initial compensable rating for his left shoulder surgical scars, and granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The appeal was denied for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, with some issues remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back disability and right hip disability to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decisions on appeal.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis to cure a pre-decisional duty to assist error and address additional evidence.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left sciatic nerve radiculopathy and remanded the claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine disability due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for GERD with chronic diarrhea, headache disorder, and right shoulder strain and bicipital tendonitis. The claim for a compensable rating for right ring finger distal phalanx fracture and degenerative arthritis was remanded.

The appeals for service connection and earlier effective date were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease prior to November 14, 2021, but granted a 40 percent rating for the left lower extremity from that date. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear status post arthroscopic debridement and meniscectomy effective February 23, 2023.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board remands the claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for a right knee disorder with osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional error of the duty to assist.

The appeal of the duty to assist error identified in the November 2023 rating decision is dismissed, and the rating reduction from 10 percent to 20 percent for the service-connected back disability was improper, with restoration granted.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a neck disability, to include degenerative arthritis, cervical spondylosis, neuroforaminal narrowing with upper extremity radiculopathy, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and mechanical cervical pain syndrome, as additional evidence has been received since the last decision.