Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left thumb disability, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition, which may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis, left ankle sprain and closed fracture of lateral malleolus, and right ankle sprain were denied. The rating decision assigned a 40% evaluation for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, left hip strain, bilateral knee strains, and bilateral elbow strains. The conditions are considered to have started during service and continued thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address the severity of his service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder is not service-connected as it did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty.,There is no competent and credible evidence establishing that the Veteran currently suffers from a right leg impairment, other than radiculopathy, to include as secondary to a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 2, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show that he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, including glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous decision. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot conditions, including plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, hammer toes, and hallux limitus with degenerative arthritis, are granted at a 30 percent evaluation effective June 10, 2024. The earlier effective date of June 28, 2021 for service connection is also granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 2, 2017 and from December 1, 2017 to September 22, 2021. The appeal for a higher rating is denied. SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance (prior to September 15, 2022) was also denied. However, since September 15, 2022, the Veteran's entitlement to increased level of SMC has been granted.

The Veteran's left knee condition was previously rated at 10 percent and increased to 20 percent in October 2019. The VA has now restored the 20 percent rating effective June 1, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability and RLE radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is dismissed as moot because it was previously adjudicated under the Legacy Appeals system and a full grant of benefits has been awarded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn, and the cases are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are inextricably intertwined with other issues on appeal and must be remanded. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a medical opinion regarding when the Veteran's service-connected disorders first manifested, readjudicate the 1981 claim, and readjudicate all of the herein issues on appeal.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for lumbar radiculopathy in both lower extremities have been granted at a 40 percent rating.,An increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is being remanded.

The Veteran's residuals of left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent, but no higher, due to marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran is rendered unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected knee and lumbar spine disabilities from October 2, 2015 to December 1, 2015, June 20, 2016 to September 1, 2016, July 19, 2017 to September 1, 2018, and April 10, 2019 to June 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right ankle status post ankle sprain is granted, and she is assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent. Her scar on the left index finger is also granted as painful, warranting a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.