Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits is granted as of January 8, 2020.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of OSA, including as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, asthma, and IBS. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits was confirmed.

The veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction but denied for left elbow disability. The rating for neck disability and PTSD were not increased, and several other conditions were remanded for further review.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied. The veteran was granted a 30% rating for tension headaches and a 10% rating for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Other claims were remanded.

The veteran's claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted as secondary to a service-connected thoracic sprain. Other claims were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and L4-L5 disc protrusion as secondary to a service-connected knee condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar IVDS with degenerative arthritis. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing the condition met the criteria for such a rating before May 18, 2022.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for erectile dysfunction and surgical scar was denied. A 10% rating was granted for right hip thigh impairment with degenerative arthritis. Claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and left knee disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lower back pain and higher initial ratings for PTSD, right achilles tendonitis, and left shoulder conditions.

The Board remands the claims for an increased disability rating and earlier effective date as it finds that additional evidence, specifically treatment records from a chiropractor and physical therapist, needs to be obtained.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right foot hallux valgus and a rating in excess of 30 percent for right foot degenerative arthritis and hallux valgus.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a back condition and bilateral radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as the earliest entitlement arose on March 20, 2023.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis, as the evidence did not show extension limited to 20 degrees or greater during the appeal period.

The Board dismissed the attempted appeals of April 2019, October 2020, November 2020, and December 2020 rating decisions due to untimely notice of disagreement (NOD) filings.

The appeal for increased disability ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating and service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, erectile dysfunction, poor balance, weight gain, and right shoulder disability.

The veteran withdrew the appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this matter.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disease at C5-C6, resolving reasonable doubts in favor of the Veteran.