Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and a psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for Raynaud's disease, muscle pain, degenerative arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves in both upper extremities, squamous cell carcinoma, and migraines.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection for left knee tendinopathy, cervical strain, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining missing service treatment and personnel records from 1982.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The appeal for service connection for hypothyroidism was dismissed as the Veteran did not withdraw his request for higher-level review, and the benefit sought on appeal had already been granted. The appeal for service connection for bilateral hip pain (osteoarthritis) was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified insomnia disorder and denied increased ratings for the right knee and maxillary sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to active service or meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left hip disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Veteran withdrew the issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee patellar tendinosis, degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine with thoracolumbar spine strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease with eosinophilic esophagitis (GERD), and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's left hip disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and the claims for earlier effective dates and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left fifth finger and right knee scars, as well as remanded claims for increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis status post right knee replacement with residual strain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left little finger ankylosis at the proximal interphalangeal joint status post fusion, and right little finger fracture.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot tinea capitis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis. The claim for diabetes mellitus was remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 29, 2022, for the award of service connection for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for rheumatic arthritis and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board found clear and unmistakable errors in the August 2021 and November 2022 rating decisions, resulting in a reduction of the ratings for right knee meniscal tear with chondrocalcinosis and joint osteoarthritis status-post (s/p) meniscectomy and painful scar, right knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine and paralysis of the sciatic nerves and hips.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine, status post fracture T-5 and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of pain medication on the severity of the Veteran's back disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for osteoarthritis and remanded a claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, entitling him to special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate beginning December 23, 2020.