Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disabilities including intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease. The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's diagnosed conditions to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent from June 16, 2021 to February 15, 2022. From February 16, 2022 to March 7, 2022, the rating remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously decided in a September 2021 rating decision, appealed to the Board in November 2021, and adjudicated by the Board in an October 29, 2024, decision. The appeal of these issues is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), right knee condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated under the criteria for limitation of flexion due to arthritis. The evidence does not warrant ratings higher than 10 percent, as the range of motion is most severely limited at 0 degrees of extension and 100 degrees of flexion with pain on examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is granted a 40% rating, but no higher. The ratings for left hip strain (limitation of flexion) and right hip strain (limitation of extension) are denied. Right lateral collateral ligament sprain remains remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding the evidence did not support a link to active service.,For left hip osteoarthritis with sacroiliitis, the Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating. The Board found that her flexion limitation did not meet or exceed 45 degrees.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted with a rating of 10%.,Effective February 28, 2013, the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are each granted with a rating of 10%. The effective date for erectile dysfunction is also set at this time.,The Veteran's spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis secondary to right hip bursitis with limitation of adduction is granted. An initial 70% rating was assigned for the service-connected psychiatric disorder (PTSD).,SMC(k) and SMC(s)(1) are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis with total knee replacements, finding that the Veteran's symptoms started during service and have continued since.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and requires an addendum VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left knee meniscectomy semilunar cartilage removal was improper, and restored the original grant of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted an effective date of November 4, 2002. The left wrist residuals of fifth metacarpal bone fracture and right elbow limitation of flexion are granted a rating of 40 percent as of April 4, 2003.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA were granted with an effective date of November 9, 2009. The VA also determined that the Veteran is entitled to SMC.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, finding that his ED is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for right knee instability was denied as there is no objective evidence of instability.

The Veteran's disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and limited extension of the left knee have been restored to their original levels effective June 1, 2021.,The restoration of ratings is granted for all three conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees and a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees. The disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis, or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to have regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis during or contemporaneous to the appeal period. The Veteran's cervical spine disability and GERD were also denied, with the cervical spine disability rated at 10 percent and GERD rated at 10 percent under DC 7346. The right hand scar claim was denied.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to a failure to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current left shoulder disabilities.