Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for right foot tarsal tunnel syndrome with right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 10 percent or left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome with left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and ratings in excess of 30 percent and 20 percent respectively for right rotator cuff tendinitis, AC joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease, and left rotator cuff tendinitis, AC joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis status post right total hip replacement, but remanded the claims for a left foot disability, right foot disability, and left shoulder rotator cuff tear and tendinitis.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated the current conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and right lower extremity sciatic nerve, as there was no evidence of continuous pursuit of these claims within one year of the initial denials.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, right and left thumb, index, long, ring, and little finger degenerative arthritis, and right knee tendonitis. However, a separate rating of 10 percent was granted for the group of minor joints composed of the right and left ring and little fingers.

The Board remands the claims for service-connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis as further development is needed to address the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and remanded several service connection claims due to missing service treatment records.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address an in-service back pain notation from May 2016 and provide an opinion on the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's current back disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for migraine headaches and granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, while dismissing SMC based on housebound status. The claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 22, 2021 for the award of a 70 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability but denied earlier effective dates for back and neck disabilities.

The Board granted restoration of the ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, effective April 1, 2023.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for initial disability ratings and a compensable rating for service-connected knee conditions, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU was granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned effective September 22, 2009.

The Board granted an effective date of February 28, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sleeping issues to include insomnia but denied earlier effective dates for both conditions.

The Board denied the applications to revise an October 2022 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for assigning effective dates of May 27, 2021 for various service connection claims.

The Board granted an effective date of May 13, 2019, for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post-traumatic arthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post-traumatic arthritis, and degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to ensure an adequate assessment of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including range of motion measurements in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee strain, lower back condition, and nerve paralysis of the left lower extremity to obtain a direct medical opinion.