Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, type I and II, right foot osteoarthritis, headaches, steatosis, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board granted increased ratings and effective dates for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including OTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an increased rating for his back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the claim was final after a withdrawal and that April 22, 2022 is the appropriate effective date.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss (right and left ear), migraines, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for service connection for a left ankle condition was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease other than IVDS and remanded the claims for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a bilateral finger disorder.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected hip and knee conditions, as the previous examinations did not adequately address additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with scoliosis and TDIU, as additional evidence is needed to address muscle spasms and effects on range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a gynecological disability, heart disability, and bilateral knee disability to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The issue regarding muscle pain, including pain of the neck, left trapezius, and left shoulder, was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a cervical spine disability, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity and range of motion findings.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for lumbar strain, right knee replacement, right knee scar, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee for further development.

The Board denied service connection for neck disability as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied a rating greater than 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, but granted a 40 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy and a 30 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims for service connection for a Parkinson's-like condition, earlier effective dates, and TDIU were denied.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and anterolisthesis of L5 over S1, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis with limited flexion and painful motion, and right knee degenerative arthritis with instability due to the failure to request relevant medical records.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and degenerative joint disease of both knees. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and remanded claims for left ear hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the left hand.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis due to an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence, while remanding the claims for low back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities for further development.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for the Veteran's left hip disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial rating of over 10 percent for a back disability, and ratings of over 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis with bursitis and left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for left elbow disabilities due to a failure to properly identify the decision being appealed.