Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of February 19, 2010 for the grant of service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased disability evaluations, except for left knee scar and patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability, which were granted an effective date of December 1, 2004.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been adequately related to an injury during active duty for training.

The Board denied increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis but granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful extension in both knees.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a left hand disability, residuals status post right boxer fracture of the fifth finger, and a bilateral hip disability. The effective date for the grants of service connection for certain conditions was set to October 28, 2020.

The Board granted restoration of a 40% rating for T-9 compression fracture, status post lumbar decompression L3 - L5 and lumbar fusion, with IVDS and degenerative arthritis, as well as increased ratings to 40% for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, finding a nexus between the in-service injury and the current disability.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, variously diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis, finding that the Veteran's back disability was aggravated by his active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, left ankle osteoarthritis, and tension headaches. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypothyroidism were remanded.

The appeal for service connection for a right hip disability was dismissed as the issue has been fully resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the matter for further development, including to obtain a new VA examination and determine the severity of the Veteran's left knee condition while discounting the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability from October 1, 2019.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with joint osteoarthritis due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for symphysis pubis arthrosis with arthritis of the right hip and degenerative arthritis of thoracic or lumbar intervertebral disc to obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 29, 2020, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to address the Veteran's sacroiliac joint degenerative arthritis, lumbar disc herniation L5-S1, and degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine disability due to an inadequate pre-decisional examination.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for back degenerative arthritis, neck degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for right knee patellar chondromalacia with osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims due to a lack of evidence regarding the etiology of certain conditions.