Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for the claims of entitlement to service connection for joint osteoarthritis, left knee; hypertension; obstructive sleep apnea; and hypothyroidism, secondary to service-connected squamous cell carcinoma has been withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for right knee limitation of extension, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis, and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination findings. The Veteran is also requested to provide additional information regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is currently assigned a 20 percent rating for right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage with locking and effusion into the joint, effective February 28, 2021. The Board finds that he is entitled to this rating based on Diagnostic Code 5258.,For his right knee tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or instability warranting an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, right hip disability (iliopsoas tendinitis, strain, and trochanteric pain syndrome), left hip disability (strain and trochanteric pain syndrome), migraine headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea on a direct basis.,The Board has also granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine disability and OSA secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for left knee joint osteoarthritis with chondrocalcinosis was denied. The earliest possible effective date is March 30, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and TDIU due to outstanding VA medical records and SSA disability benefit records. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective April 28, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a thorough VA examination of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to ensure compliance with prior remand directives and VA's duty to assist.

The appeal for service connection of migraine headaches is dismissed. The case for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, including IVDS with scoliosis, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is no longer on appeal due to service connection being awarded. The case is now remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was dismissed as the April 2020 rating decision did not constitute a final appealable decision.,Service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with recurrent, moderate MDD (previously insomnia disorder) was granted with an effective date of March 28, 2024.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions warranting a higher rating.,Both lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent. The Board does not find any additional impairment that would justify a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. A new examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, bowel incontinence, and bladder incontinence due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's RLE neuropathy is granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's plantar fasciitis with osteoarthritis is denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and a post-surgical right hip scar, finding that the Veteran's congenital hip conditions were aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for a lumbar spine disability is denied, but he receives an initial rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

Service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and IVDS is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.