Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of the Veteran's right knee disabilities due to the need for an additional VA examination.

The appeal was dismissed due to a concurrent election of review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent temporary evaluation for left and right knee conditions, as the evidence did not support an earlier entitlement to such ratings.

The appeal for service connection for right knee strain iliotibial band friction syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed as moot due to a full grant of benefits.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, effective February 14, 2020. The decision also granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, as well as TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left upper extremity nerve condition (secondary to degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, neck condition), headaches, left knee strain, and tinnitus. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, urinary frequency, and voiding dysfunction were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected back and IVDS disability, as well as GAD, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 8, 2020, for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia and granted service connection for degenerative arthritis in various joints.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient information regarding the baseline severity of his conditions when discounting the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left Achilles tendon rupture with tendonitis and osteoarthritis, as the Veteran's condition was not shown to have additional significant loss of motion due to factors such as pain, weakness, lack of endurance, fatigability, and incoordination during flare-ups and with repeated use over time.

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left hip disability.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 30 percent for a cervical spine disability due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, with degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to provide adequate range of motion measurements, including during flare-ups.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a TBI, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, and right wrist arthritis/wrist sprain, chronic as secondary to instability, left knee due to concurrent elections under the modernized review system.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (neck). The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of a 70 percent disability rating for depression, as well as increased ratings for left hip degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claim for a retrospective medical opinion to address the Veteran's right shoulder disability without the ameliorative effects of his use of pain medication.

The appeals for proposed reductions in the evaluations of sinusitis, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as there was no question of law or fact on appeal.

The Board granted initial ratings of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, 60 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, status post spinal fusion, and 40 percent for radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claim for a compensable rating for scar on back was denied, and TDIU was granted.