Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted earlier effective dates of January 13, 2021, for the assignment of a 50 percent evaluation for sinusitis, a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and a 10 percent evaluation for left knee disability with instability (DC 5257). The claim for an earlier effective date than January 25, 2019, for the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for left knee disability with limited flexion (DC 5260) was denied.

The appeal for increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee conditions was dismissed due to a concurrent election of administrative review options.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, chronic left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scar of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the claims processing.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee lateral meniscal tear/osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine spondylolisthesis/spondylosis, as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for right elbow osteoarthritis and remanded the claims for higher ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted restoration of the 60 percent disability rating for total left knee replacement with degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia, granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability, denied an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for cervicitis with dysplasia status post hysterectomy, granted earlier effective dates for service connection and DEA eligibility, and denied extensions of temporary total evaluations and SMC.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia patella, finding that the evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether the condition was permanently aggravated by active military service.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address whether the January 2020 VA examination complied with Correia v. McDonald, and to obtain additional information regarding the severity of the left shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board remands the claims for further evidentiary development.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal problems, as additional evidence has not been considered by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus were denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election of review options.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis with Baker's cyst to obtain an adequate VA examination addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine to obtain new medical opinions addressing specific issues raised by the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for further development to correct a duty to assist error related to an August 2023 examination report that did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication when evaluating the current nature and severity of the right knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for several foot, hip, neck, and shoulder disabilities but granted service connection for right and left shoulder strains with impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as a scar on her right knee. However, it denied earlier effective dates for her back and right knee conditions.