Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for further development of medical opinion evidence to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, including post total knee replacement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and special monthly compensation based on a factual need for regular aid and attendance. However, it granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to December 1, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain with meniscal tear and instability with osteoarthritis and tendinosis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent prior to February 22, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent after February 22, 2021, for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The appeal for VA disability benefits is dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to properly identify the specific issues he wishes to appeal.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not support a finding of an in-service injury or a nexus to service.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions were at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher or separate rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's back disability and a separate, additional 10 percent rating for left knee instability, while denying a compensable evaluation for surgical scars of the left knee and back.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, headaches as proximately due to PTSD, and erectile dysfunction as proximately due to PTSD. The claims for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD and a 70 percent rating for PTSD were denied, as was the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. Several other claims were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a back disability, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle injury and an extraschedular TDIU prior to September 1, 2020.

The Board remands the case for further development to ensure compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and lumbar radiculopathy, but remanded the claims for right foot condition and left foot condition.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable prior to August 4, 2020, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the increased disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine, posttraumatic degenerative changes, traumatic brain injury with insomnia and dizziness, and post traumatic residuals of left ankle and fracture of the left tibia/fibula with internal fixator, all from December 16, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for increased initial disability ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and a right ankle strain to ensure that VA examinations are adequate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, right hip, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis based on new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist, and left forearm were remanded for further consideration.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.