Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee.

The Veteran's entitlement to a restoration of 90% disability rating for nuclear cataract and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, both eyes, is granted effective August 1, 2022. The earlier effective date claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and/or housebound criteria is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 30, 2012, for the award of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine, status post-cervical spine fracture was denied. The Board found that there were no relevant service records added after April 8, 1996, which would have impacted the original denial in April 1996.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding increased ratings for PTSD, left calcaneal fracture residuals, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. Additionally, a TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis lumbosacral spine with spinal stenosis was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination of his right knee disability, including obtaining physical therapy records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need for retrospective opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected shoulder degenerative arthritis, back condition, and knee conditions.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as additional evidence is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as they are considered to be a result of the Veteran's in-service back disability.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 60 percent initial rating effective August 7, 2015, for GERD with gastritis. The other claims were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions, but denied service connection for a left hip condition.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions as they are considered to be directly related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's left knee injury with instability and degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the submission of additional evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 7, 2014 due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his back and knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for clarification on whether he has had 'functional ankylosis' in either his back or left knee disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee osteoarthritis and instability was denied, but a separate 10 percent rating for instability was granted. A TDIU was initially denied prior to March 11, 2019, but was later granted from that date onwards.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for non-specific dermatitis and tinea versicolor, and service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee joint traumatic osteoarthritis. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for right knee instability.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is remanded due to a duty to assist error. An adequate VA medical opinion is required.