Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee strain with osteoarthritis is granted an effective date of May 23, 2024. Service connection for CFS and fibromyalgia are also granted but with an effective date of December 11, 2024.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The rating of 30% for right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy from June 15, 2018, to January 19, 2021, is also confirmed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a right foot disability. However, these issues are being remanded due to new evidence submitted after the November 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted with an effective date of April 5, 2021.,The TDIU was initially raised during the adjudication process of the underlying claim for service connection for TMJ.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to potential missing treatment records and deficiencies in the VA examinations used. The Veteran will need new disability benefit questionnaires completed, as well as new VA examinations with specific range of motion measurements.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, right ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay statements, his service treatment records showing bilateral ankle complaints during service in March and April 1997, and a September 2023 private opinion linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, but remanded the issues of secondary service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities as well as back disability due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including left and right knee osteoarthritis, were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability in both knees.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain as secondary to the service-connected residuals of left wrist Keinbock's disease. The claim for right thumb trigger finger with osteoarthritis is remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection in all cases.

Your claims for service connection for osteoarthritis and right ear hearing loss have been granted, effective from November 12, 2019. The appeal is dismissed as the claims are now moot.

The Veteran's bilateral foot, hand, and hip conditions are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's inability to take NSAIDs due to his service-connected kidney removal.

The Veteran's service connection for a cervical spine disability is granted from March 13, 2023. The claim was reopened on new evidence submitted after the initial denial in April 1988. However, his request for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of July 12, 2013, based on his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

Your right hip disability, diagnosed as avascular necrosis and degenerative arthritis, has been granted service connection in a separate Board decision. This appeal is dismissed because the issue of your right hip disability was already resolved.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is November 1, 2013, following his separation from service.,Effective January 17, 2018, the Veteran was granted separate ratings for various hand and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Right Knee Osteoarthritis with Symptomatic Removal of Semilunar Cartilage were denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the disabilities met the criteria for higher ratings within one year prior to the date of claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's initial higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied, and he is granted initial ratings of 40% each for peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities.