Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the claims for a compensable rating and an increased rating for scars, and remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and for service connection for a right hip condition.

The Board granted service connection for venous stasis ulcers and remanded the issue of a left elbow disability for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis, service connection for a right ankle disability, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right foot disability to obtain outstanding physical therapy records and a new VA examination.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation, as well as a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's right knee surgical scar is granted a rating of 10 percent, while the claims for an earlier effective date and service connection for a right leg length discrepancy are denied. Other claims have been remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a TDIU prior to March 10, 2016, as there is evidence suggesting that the Veteran may have been unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities before meeting the schedular criteria.

The Board remands the claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease with mild thoracolumbar spondylosis due to a duty to assist error in notifying the Veteran of an examination.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and an initial 50 percent disability rating for tension headaches effective June 20, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for lateral instability of the right and left knees from September 7, 2023, but denied increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of both knees.

The Board granted an effective date of December 23, 2019, for service connection of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome but denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and post-concussive headaches.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence and failure to obtain necessary medical examinations and opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and a neck disability due to an incomplete record, specifically the February 2024 VA examiner's medical opinion regarding the Veteran's neck condition.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with cervical fusion to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to an untimely notice of disagreement. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for osteoarthritis and kidney disability due to ionizing radiation exposure for further development, including obtaining new medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for ED, multiple joint rheumatoid arthritis, neck disability with cervical radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis, and back disability with bilateral lumbar radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis to obtain additional medical opinions that comply with previous remand directives.

All five issues were remanded for additional development. The Board found prior VA medical opinions inadequate because they failed to address in-service diagnoses, applied incorrect legal standards, and dismissed competent lay statements without explanation.