Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied a compensable rating for left thumb degenerative arthritis prior to September 6, 2023, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disorder to obtain additional evidence and an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for restoration of ratings and higher ratings for various conditions, as well as earlier effective dates for certain ratings.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar, right knee, and left knee disabilities but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board also remanded service connection for asthma.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident and his obesity.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and various musculoskeletal conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 30, 2011, warranting a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, finding credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board found that the reduction of ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and right shoulder disability from 20% to 10% and 30% to 20%, respectively, was improper; therefore, these ratings were restored. The increased rating claims for IVDS and a right shoulder disability, as well as the TDIU claim, are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to tinnitus, denied service connection for a left knee disorder and umbilical hernia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability, as there was no evidence of forward flexion of 30 degrees or less or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a 100 percent disability rating after April 1, 2023 and an increased rating in excess of 20 percent from that date due to her cervical spine disability.

The appeal for an increased rating for left ankle osteoarthritis was dismissed due to a concurrent election and error in the filing process.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while denying service connection for gastroenteritis. The rating assigned was 10 percent for left ankle scars and 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome with pinguecula.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability as the evidence did not support a finding that it was related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to ensure that all range-of-motion testing requirements are met, as per Correia v. McDonald.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, bilateral hand degenerative arthritis, a bilateral foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to allow for further development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left hip degenerative arthritis, and other musculoskeletal issues.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine spondylosis and denied increased ratings for right hip osteoarthritis, including for limitation of flexion, abduction/adduction/rotation, and extension.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for left hip strain limitation of extension and right hip strain limitation of extension.