Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee strain with patellar instability.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis. The veteran will receive another VA examination to determine if his knee conditions are related to his military service.

Service connection for both left and right knee degenerative arthritis has been granted.

The appeal for service connection of a lower back condition is remanded to correct errors in the duty to assist. The Board will consider new evidence and opinions.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of right hip degenerative arthritis due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with an adequate medical opinion.

The veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2021. This means the veteran is considered totally disabled due to service-connected conditions and unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran was granted a 20% rating for several conditions but denied higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The veteran was also granted TDIU from January 30, 2017.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral knee pain was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement did not identify a specific decision and was filed outside the one-year window. The veteran had already been granted service connection for painful bilateral knee osteoarthritis with an effective date of June 23, 2015.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, so he is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant were denied. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was remanded.

Service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis was granted. Service connection for right and left hip disabilities was denied.

The veteran was granted an initial 20 percent rating for bilateral hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion prior to July 29, 2020, and a 10 percent rating for bilateral hip osteoarthritis with limited extension for the entire period on appeal. A 20 percent rating for bilateral hip osteoarthritis with thigh impairment from August 5, 2006 was also granted. However, ratings in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hip osteoarthritis with limited flexion from July 29, 2020 and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hip osteoarthritis with thigh impairment prior to August 5, 2006 were denied.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for their psychiatric disability and degenerative arthritis of the spine ratings, as well as TDIU and DEA eligibility, was granted.

The veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings was remanded. The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities starting from March 20, 2019.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for a 40 percent disability rating for spine issues and service connection for radiculopathy in both legs.

The veteran was granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility to Dependents' Education Assistance. The issues related to ratings for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and right humeral fracture residuals were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee strain with osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, and for service connection for hearing loss. The VA did not comply with previous remand instructions, including verifying the veteran's address and scheduling necessary examinations.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain adequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims could not be adjudicated on the merits due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis and unspecified anxiety disorder.