Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disability as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right foot and ankle osteoarthritis. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions, including neck disability, shoulder disability, and various joint issues. The decision was based on errors in duty to assist and the need for further development of the evidence.

The veteran's appeal for chronic fatigue syndrome was dismissed. The veteran's ratings for lumbar degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy were restored to 20 percent. The veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound criteria.

The veteran's appeals for knee ratings were dismissed as he withdrew them. The appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disorder was remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran is granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and a separate rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from June 4, 2020.

Service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and right elbow arthritis is granted. Other issues related to the knees are denied.

Service connection for the veteran's left knee meniscal tear with degenerative joint disease and right knee degenerative arthritis, claimed as secondary to a service-connected left ankle injury, is denied.

The Board remanded all issues to the Regional Office for further development of evidence and a new decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for right knee degenerative arthritis, stating that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder is granted. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for stress urinary incontinence as secondary to lumbar radiculopathy was granted. The effective date for service connection for sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity was set to January 18, 2022. An increased disability rating of 20 percent for left knee joint osteoarthritis with limited flexion from August 11, 2021, to February 2, 2023, was granted. The claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder from February 16, 2021, to February 2, 2023, was denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right shoulder disability and service connection for a left eardrum burst.

The veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative disc disease was restored to 40 percent, but a higher rating was denied.

Service connection for the veteran's left knee conditions was denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disability were remanded for further review.

The veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for back disability was denied, but the claim for a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected right knee conditions. The veteran did not file a claim before April 13, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's neck, back, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The Board also denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disability.

The veteran's service connection for right knee disability is granted. The Board found that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was caused by service.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, both secondary to service-connected conditions.