Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability have been granted.,An effective date of August 14, 2018, has been assigned for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, right knee osteoarthritis, and left hand fracture was denied. The effective date remains unchanged at the current level of disability.

The Veteran's service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted effective August 2, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and a functionally impairing left shoulder disability, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service injuries sustained during combat service.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's heart condition, claimed as a heart attack, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 18, 2023. Effective that date, the Veteran also becomes eligible for DEA benefits and has an effective date of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's need for supervision, protection, or instruction on a continuous basis due to his service-connected disabilities has been determined, granting him an increased Level 2 stipend under the PCAFC program.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies have been restored with a rating of 70 percent effective April 1, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether his current condition was aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including his service records and chiropractic treatment history.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and foraminal stenosis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle strain are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hamstring strain, sinusitis, left ankle condition, and mild osteoarthritis of the MCP and CMCP as there was no new and relevant evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU was denied as there were no unadjudicated claims for TDIU prior to April 28, 2023. The current effective date is the earliest possible based on the schedular criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with ACL status post tear, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury while playing football.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his range of motion was within the limits specified for a 10% rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his left shoulder conditions, which may affect his rating.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left knee strain was granted with an effective date of March 26, 2020. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date due to the law prohibiting payment prior to April 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 10, 2021, but no earlier, for a 40 percent initial rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis has been granted. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of the formal claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot pes cavus, and right foot pes cavus as there is no credible medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.