Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for dry mouth, allergies, and increased ratings for BPPV, chronic constipation, right hip degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims for erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches, and tailbone pain were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence was in relative equipoise regarding whether the symptoms and manifestations of the Veteran's knees originated during service and eventually manifested as her current knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, granted a 20 percent rating for left knee instability prior to February 7, 2021, and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from September 1, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her lumbar spine and lower extremity disabilities to obtain private chiropractic treatment records.

The Board denied readjudication of the claims for service connection for left knee and right knee osteoarthritis as new and relevant evidence was not submitted.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent), but remanded the issue of basal cell carcinoma and residuals.

The veteran withdrew all appeals for service connection related to various conditions, including knees, feet, eyes, and back.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis was granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, effective from November 25, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and their respective in-service injuries.

The Board denied the claims for service connection and an initial compensable evaluation, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability or sleep apnea related to service. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were found to be noncompensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, including a nerve disability, duodenal ulcer, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, residual right ankle and right knee scars, left ear hearing loss, post traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, right knee strain, and tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted a 60 percent evaluation for joint osteoarthritis status post total left knee replacement since June 5, 2016.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for left and right pubic symphysis degenerative arthritis, but denied a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claims for service connection for knee disorders were remanded.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis associated with the left foot bunionectomy and a 10 percent rating for residual surgical scar, status post left foot bunionectomy. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis was denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease and left shoulder impingement syndrome, granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy with involvement of the sciatic nerve, and denied a compensable rating for left shoulder arthroscopic repair scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, as no new and material evidence was received prior to April 27, 2022.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain to include osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability or limitation of flexion and extension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting TDIU effective May 20, 2022.