Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a throat disorder other than allergic rhinitis and GERD, and remanded the claims for respiratory, left shoulder, right foot, and right hip disorders due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left and right ankle sprains with degenerative arthritis, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndromes with degenerative arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne keloidalis nuchae.

The claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis was dismissed as there is no remaining controversy for appellate consideration. The claim for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral feet was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and denied the claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as for lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a total disability rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the matter for an addendum opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, as the previous VA examination was found to be inadequate.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was granted a 100 percent rating, while the low back condition and associated radiculopathy were denied increased ratings. SMC at the housebound rate was also granted.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of a creative organ, as these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and disc osteophyte complex, finding that the Veteran's neck disability is related to his physical labor during active duty as an electrician's mate.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his right knee disability based on limitation of extension and remanded claims for service connection for a left knee disability and headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, finding no evidence of a nexus between the in-service injury and the current disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and denied it for Meniere's syndrome.

The Board granted an effective date of August 5, 2021 for the award of service connection for rhinitis and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability. The issue regarding a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board remands the case for additional development, specifically to obtain a retrospective opinion addressing the nature and severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating greater than 20 percent or 40 percent, as appropriate, for service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, right and left lower extremity femoral and sciatic radiculopathy, and right and left upper extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy prior to specified dates. The claims are remanded so that retrospective medical opinions can be provided addressing the severity of each disability over the entire course of the period on appeal.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, secondary to her low back condition.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 19, 2024 for additional development.