Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, disability manifested by joint pain, claimed as polyarthritis, and low back disorder to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, including migraine variants, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and granted a TDIU rating on an accrued basis.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and right ear sensorineural hearing loss. The claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and increased rating for chronic fatigue syndrome were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right hip strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. The right shoulder claim was remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability and granted a 20 percent rating, but not higher, for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity, and a 40 percent rating, but not higher, for radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee joint osteoarthritis and knee strain, left knee instability, and right knee strain.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis to obtain an addendum opinion and ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left-sided lumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder and 10 percent for the right knee, granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee, and remanded several other claims including service connection for psychiatric disorders, hypertension, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis was granted as of May 25, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder dislocation with osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, and tendinosis but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatic nerve, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent respectively.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 1, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset in service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of osteoarthritis of the right hip as secondary to a service-connected condition due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for radiculopathy in all lower extremities and denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine.

The appeal for evaluation of IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed, while TDIU was granted due to the combined effects of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for left hip osteoarthritis and trochanteric pain syndrome based on abduction, adduction, and rotation.