Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CFS, hypertension, GERD, hip arthritis, shoulder and knee conditions, ankle conditions, cervical spine and low back conditions, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, including meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, resulted in functional loss due to chronic pain that limited his locomotion. From March 26, 2007, the Veteran's service-connected neck, lower back, and knee disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of the grant of Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits corresponds to the effective date of the grant for Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the current VA medical opinions are inadequate and remands for further clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis caused his obesity, or aggravated it. Additionally, an opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to medications prescribed for his back disability.

The appeal as to service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, and right and left ankle sprains is dismissed. The appeal as to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee osteoarthritis was denied in October 2023. The Board has now remanded the case to obtain an adequate VA examination and provide a retrospective opinion on the severity of his disability during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disabilities and an examination to address the theory that sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these cases.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC under 38 USC § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's death to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the lack of an adequate rationale for the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was reduced from a 40 percent rating to a 20 percent rating, effective October 19, 2021. The reduction is granted as the evidence showed actual improvement in her ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent since June 30, 2021. The claim for increased rating is denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, other than psoriatic arthritis of the feet, due to a duty to assist error in the AOJ decision.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS. The right and left hip disabilities are remanded for a VA opinion to determine if they are caused or aggravated by the now service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and rated at 10 percent.,For his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, the rating remains at 10 percent as there is no evidence of functional impairment warranting a higher rating.,Right hip strain limitation of flexion continues to be rated at 10 percent.,Left hip strain limitation of flexion also remains at 10 percent.,Right hip limitation of extension, right hip impairment of thigh, and left hip limitation of extension are all rated at 0 percent as there is no evidence of functional impairment warranting a higher rating.,Left hip impairment of thigh is also rated at 0 percent for the same reason.

The Veteran's rating for right hip degenerative arthritis was reduced from 40 percent to 30 percent, effective October 1, 2022. The reduction is not proper and the original 40 percent rating is restored.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral glaucoma and service connection for other conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of August 7, 1973 for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's reduced ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) have been reinstated.,The Veteran's reduced ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) have been reinstated.,The Veteran's reduced ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) have been reinstated.,The Veteran's reduced ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) have been reinstated.