Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis, meniscal tear, and anterior cruciate ligament tear. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). It also denied earlier effective dates and higher evaluations for several other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease, right rotator cuff tendonitis, and left knee strain and degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance regarding its relation to service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher ratings was denied, but a 70% rating for PTSD from September 26, 2021, to September 25, 2022, was granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for back disability was denied. However, the veteran was granted a 20% rating for right lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy from September 17, 2019, to present.

The appeal for service connection of hypertension is remanded. The Board needs a new medical opinion to determine if the veteran's hypertension is related to their service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed claims for higher ratings for right knee, L5 vertebra, and plantar fasciitis due to pending readjudication. It denied higher ratings for left upper extremity neuropathy and PTSD with alcohol use disorder but remanded the eczema claim and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected disabilities and initial ratings in excess of the assigned percentages. An increased rating of 20 percent was granted for the right ankle disability. Claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities were denied. The claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, hypertension, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claim for a higher rating of his left ankle disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion on whether his condition meets the criteria for ankylosis or its functional equivalent.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for migraines and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis were denied. The claims for service connection for depression, alcohol use disorder, chest pain, shortness of breath, and bilateral hearing loss were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for direct payment of agent fees was granted, but the issue of whether the amount of fees awarded is reasonable was remanded.

The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the left wrist was dismissed because the veteran did not clearly identify a specific error. The veteran can refile with more details.

The Veteran's low back disability has not been manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, and there have not been incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician having a total duration of at least six weeks during the 12-month period. As such, the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability has been denied.

The Board dismissed the legacy appeal for three issues related to cervical spondylosis and right knee degenerative arthritis due to a valid opt-in by the Veteran to the AMA review system.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a new opinion on service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an adequate VA examination or medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's tibia and knee conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development as the current evidence is inadequate to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right knee osteoarthritis manifesting in limitation of extension from August 3, 2023 onward. The Veteran's other claims were denied.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a left foot disorder, increased ratings for right knee conditions, and TDIU due to further development needed.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis to obtain a new examination opinion addressing whether it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities.