Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and cervical degenerative disc disease are granted as service-connected.,Hyperlipidemia is granted as secondary to major depressive disorder. Lipomas of the chest and right middle back, and interstitial lung disease (claimed as asbestosis) are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative arthritis is causally related to a knee injury sustained during active service, and therefore grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective May 21, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran detrimentally relied on the actions taken by the AOJ and thus grants an earlier effective date of September 30, 2016.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities are rated as 50 percent disabling based on symptoms that would be duplicative or overlap symptomatology with his BPTD, which is already evaluated at 50 percent. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for the foot disabilities from July 23, 2010, to February 19, 2022, is denied.

The Veteran's current left shoulder condition is not related to his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for left shoulder strain, left rotator cuff tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, glenohumeral joint dislocation, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation of his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis and hypertension, finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a low back disability was denied as there were no pending, unadjudicated claims prior to October 25, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back conditions and bilateral radiculopathy of his lower extremities, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to limitations such as difficulty dressing, feeding himself, attending to the wants of nature, and traveling. The Board has determined that these criteria are met for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has denied higher ratings for various conditions, including left knee degenerative arthritis and right shoulder arthralgia/arthritis. The issues of entitlement to a separate rating for the left knee meniscus condition and an initial compensable rating for the left knee scar have been addressed. The case is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear. The decision finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, low back disability, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to December 17, 2023, and denied a higher rating. Beginning December 17, 2023, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease was dismissed because the VA Form 10182, which is required to request review of a decision, was not filed within one year of the June 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, review of outstanding records, and application of the combat presumption.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to procedural issues and a need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's left foot disability is being remanded for a new VA medical opinion to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA on a secondary basis to his service-connected left shoulder degenerative arthritis and PTSD (previously rated as anxiety disorder), with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis status post meniscectomy, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.