Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine with moderate spondylosis, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder strain and lower back disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current conditions were not shown to be related to military service.

The Board denied benefits for spina bifida and other covered birth defects as the appellant's mother is not a Vietnam Veteran, and she does not meet the criteria for spina bifida other than spina bifida occulta.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's back condition is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding no evidence that the conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, involving the sciatic nerve, but remanded other issues.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial ratings for right knee disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, diagnosed as thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis and radiculopathy. The right knee and left knee issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral knee disorders. The claims for the thoracolumbar spine disorder and psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, as well as for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance, both effective February 28, 2023. The claims for increased evaluations of the right knee were dismissed.

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

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, left knee degenerative arthritis, and migraines, but denied a compensable rating for migraines.

The Board denied an increased rating above 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the Veteran's credible history of back pain during service.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. However, it restored the 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain effective October 31, 2023.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee and hip conditions, except for a 50 percent rating from November 29, 2019, for right hip status post arthroplasty and a similar rating for left hip status post arthroplasty. The effective date for service connection of scars on the knees and hips was set to May 17, 2021.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 3, 2018, for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis status post meniscal repair, limitation of flexion. The claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for left knee meniscal tear with arthritis was denied.

The Board granted a temporary total rating for the Veteran's right knee replacement from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.