Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and cervical spine with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the filing of the VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied service connection for a lower and middle back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbar degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and foraminal stenosis.,The Board also denied service connection for a neck disability, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, foraminal stenosis, and anterolisthesis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the February 3, 2020 claim.

The Board denied service connection and special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of the left hand due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,The Board also denied service connection and SMC for loss of use of the right hand due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2020 VA examination, which did not include estimated range of motion measurements considering functional loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to the need for additional information regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and hip disabilities, as well as for obtaining private treatment records. The issues include higher ratings for lumbar spondylosis, degenerative arthritis of the spine (lumbar spine disability), trochanteric pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis (hip extension), and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and scoliosis. The appeal regarding a bilateral foot disability is remanded.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection of spondylolisthesis of the back, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine facet joint, tinnitus, and migraine headaches as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and military service.,The appellant's lay statements regarding her symptoms are not sufficient to establish service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The appellant's claims are denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or link to military service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and right shoulder osteoarthritis service connection have been granted with effective dates of March 25, 2019. The claim for an increased disability rating for right shoulder osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted effective December 30, 2019.,PTSD benefits were not granted earlier than December 3, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, left knee strain, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and skin disability (manifesting as chronic arm rashes resulting in impairment in earning capacity) on a direct basis.,Reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran for all five conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and ankle conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome, DJD with torn ACL and medial meniscus, and instability. The Board is remanding the claims due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's lumbar disability and associated radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves are granted with effective dates from June 30, 2010. A 40% rating is assigned for the lumbar disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including consideration of a pre-decisional hearing.

The Veteran's claims for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another, as well as initial disability ratings for his left ankle osteoarthritis and right lower extremity radiculitis, are being remanded due to deficiencies in VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed as the claim has already been granted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) was denied because it is not secondary to service-connected lower back problems and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,PFB was denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis at any time during the pendency of the claim.,The appeal for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and osteophytes is remanded, meaning further action by the AOJ is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's claim is being readjudicated.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis are found to have begun during his military service and continue since then, warranting the grant of service connection.