Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the back disability prior to November 3, 2021.

The Board denied initial disability ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for various conditions, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a 10 percent rating for dry eye syndrome, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during or shortly after service.

The appeal to reduce the Veteran's back disability rating from 20 percent disabling to 10 percent was dismissed as it was not ripe for appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for vertigo, major depression/anxiety condition, and degenerative arthritis of both hands to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee joint osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted an effective date of June 15, 2021, for a 40 percent evaluation for the chronic orthopedic symptoms of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) effective October 6, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for his right ankle condition, right knee patellar chondromalacia, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis and right foot plantar fasciitis, acquired pes cavus (claw foot) and degenerative arthritis based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of the cause of the Veteran's death to obtain a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lower back disability and his multiple heart disabilities, including obesity.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 20% rating for the Veteran's low back condition, while denying increased ratings for her psychiatric and neurological conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and denied claims for compensable ratings for right ear hearing loss, service connection for left ear hearing loss, and service connection for scars on the right elbow and eyebrow.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back disability and remanded issues related to right lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection.

The Board remands the matter for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and service records.