Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee condition, and foot conditions, preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted an effective date of November 19, 2019, for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathies but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and strain based on the Veteran's continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that it was caused by his active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee strain with osteoarthritis as a new VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his time in service or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for lumbar laminectomy scar residuals, restored the 30 percent rating for nephrectomy scar residuals, and denied a compensable rating for lumbar laminectomy scar residuals. The cervical spine claims were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of July 25, 2016, for the grant of service connection and ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy as new VA examinations are needed to determine their nature and etiology.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence gathering, including obtaining complete Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right hip osteoarthritis and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding functional ankylosis and aggravation of obstructive sleep apnea by service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability, but denied increased ratings for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities but denied service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use due to several lower extremity disabilities, as no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump with a prosthesis.

The appeal for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities and left and right knee disabilities was dismissed due to a procedural error in docketing the same claims under two different dockets.

The Board remands the claims for further development to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion that reconciles the October 2019 private medical report and the March 2020 VA examination report.

The Board remands the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for both the left and right knee disabilities based on the medical evidence not supporting higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder condition to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the ameliorative effects of medication and treatments on his condition.