Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right foot disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. For the left foot conditions (Morton's neuroma, mastalgia, osteoarthritis), the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less, which would be required for a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including right leg disability, left knee chondrocalcinosis, right foot osteoarthritis, left foot osteoarthritis, right hand osteoarthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis. The issues were all found to not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current left knee disabilities, specifically whether they are related to his in-service chondromalacia patella and subsequent ruptured patellar tendon.

The Veteran's service connection for left shoulder dislocation with traumatic arthritis and right ankle degenerative arthritis was restored as both conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from December 2019 to March 5, 2020. As of March 5, 2020, the Veteran received a combined total rating of 100%, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective January 23, 2019.,The Veteran's left knee instability is granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective January 23, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was not clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions in service. The Board also found no current disability related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The claim for left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded.,The Veteran's current right knee condition, including osteoarthritis, was found to be related to his in-service injury and subsequent surgeries.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and TBI have been granted service connection. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, headache disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder has been denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis was denied, and the effective date of service connection remains February 15, 2016.,Initial ratings of 40 percent were granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy with peripheral neuropathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy with peripheral neuropathy. The effective dates remain February 15, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to January 3, 2020 for degenerative arthritis with IVDS and spinal stenosis was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating beginning on January 3, 2020 for degenerative arthritis with IVDS and spinal stenosis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to increased disability ratings and a separate claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities due to inadequate medical findings regarding range of motion loss during flare-ups. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with his increased rating claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine stenosis with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and spondylolisthesis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are causally related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including lower back pain, lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar degenerative arthritis, finding that her symptoms are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's left foot disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current left foot conditions. The issues of service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and left ear disability are also remanded due to their inextricably intertwined relationship with the left foot disability.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with multilevel degenerative disc disease was denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis was also denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, finding that it is related to his active-duty service.