Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability, requiring further evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected right knee instability and status post right knee meniscus repair.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected conditions and if it is aggravated by those conditions or medications taken for them.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 17, 2020 for the award of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right femoral nerve radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's timely submission of a complete claim within one year of receipt of an incomplete application form.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis may be related to service, but needs further examination and opinion to make a determination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and bilateral sciatic/femoral radiculopathy were denied. The current rating of 20 percent for chronic lumbar syndrome, status post L4-5 lumbar discectomy/fusion with degenerative arthritis from February 14, 2019, to March 10, 2020, was maintained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left hip degenerative arthritis and his sleep apnea. The VA will seek additional medical records and an opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his degenerative arthritis of the right ankle is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for the mood disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service connected PTSD, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis are found to have caused his obesity, which then led to his obstructive sleep apnea. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private medical records and requesting addendum opinions.

The Veteran's knee braces caused increased wear and tear on his pants, warranting annual VA clothing allowances for the year 2020.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been denied. The RO continued the existing 10 percent ratings for each joint.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided were inadequate, as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements or other relevant evidence of record. The claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions are therefore remanded to obtain a new examination and medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that it is proximately due to obesity caused by his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis and right knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right osteoarthritis posttraumatic shin, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and thus not warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service and met the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis and stenosis of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for obesity, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, right knee osteoarthritis status post total knee arthroplasty, left foot disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, lumbar spine disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and tear with glenohumeral joint dislocation and degenerative arthritis was denied in September 2009. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the Veteran did not appeal the initial denial, and there is no evidence of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) to overturn it. The claim was reopened on December 8, 2021, and service connection was granted with a rating of 20 percent effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 24, 2021.