Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for right knee condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include osteoarthritis and instability, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and his active duty service.

The Board granted ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis and instability based on limited flexion and extension, as well as a rating of 10 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis and instability based on patellar instability from August 4, 2023, to April 11, 2024. The claims for increased ratings for acne and scars of the posterior trunk were denied.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, service connection for post-surgical cervical spine scar and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the cervical spine condition, and a TDIU from August 24, 2017. The right upper extremity radiculopathy rating was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee flexion and a compensable evaluation for left knee extension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, and an effective date of April 25, 2019, but no earlier, for the grant of a 70 percent evaluation for unspecified anxiety disorder (UAD).

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for tinnitus, denied service connection for anus restriction as secondary to a service-connected disability, and denied increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The claims for service connection for right knee strain with osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected disabilities and TDIU were remanded.

The appeals for increased ratings of the Veteran's conditions were dismissed from the modernized review system due to a procedural defect.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's neck condition, considering in-service complaints of neck pain.

The Board granted service connection for right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear with degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, and meniscectomy based on the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, knee osteoarthritis, COPD, and GERD.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, degenerative arthritis, left boot paresthetica, right boot paresthetica, left lower leg calf strain, and bilateral pes planus to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and remanded the claims for right and left ankle degenerative arthritis with calcaneal spur.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for increased ratings of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors in prior examinations.

The appeal for an increased rating for a low back disability was withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative, and therefore, the claim is dismissed.

The appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder is granted, and a remand is warranted for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of other claimed disorders.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis and osteophytes based on limitation of extension from June 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019, but denied a higher rating. It also granted a 10 percent disability rating for the same condition based on limitation of flexion from June 1, 2017.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and outstanding medical records.