Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's neck disability, including degenerative arthritis and spondylosis, was incurred in service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a retroactive payment of VA disability compensation benefits due to changes in the rating assigned to right upper extremity radiculopathy (RUER) associated with cervical spine degenerative arthritis is being remanded. The decision will involve obtaining an audit report or generating one if it has not been made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left thigh lipoma, left ear hearing loss, and right foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not reach a level of equipoise in favor of granting any of these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and allergies as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, which was reduced from 20 percent. The ratings for DDD other than with IVDS and status post laminectomy L4-L5 of spine and right hip degenerative arthritis (thigh, impairment of) are not restored.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to inadequate VA opinions and potential duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for hepatosplenomegaly is denied as there is no evidence of this condition during or near the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis were denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings and service connection related to various back, knee, and respiratory conditions due to a lack of a valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filed by the Veteran or their representative.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and bilateral varicose veins, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities, which have rendered him wheelchair dependent and unable to perform daily tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lower back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the right knee and scar disability claims, requiring VA examinations to be conducted for proper evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions have been dismissed as the Board has already granted these ratings effective October 23, 2013.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip strain, as it may be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective November 15, 2019. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of his most recent VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's rating for his back disability was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective May 1, 2022. The reduction is granted as the evidence showed a sustained improvement in his condition that could be maintained under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for a back condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus is found related to noise exposure during service, while his back disability requires further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder bursitis as secondary to left shoulder bursitis and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis cervical spine (claimed as cervical spine pain) as secondary to left shoulder bursitis.