Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee meniscal tear, lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease (lumbar spine disability), and cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee has been dismissed. The Veteran also requested an increase in his rating for migraine headaches, but this issue is not part of the current appeal as it was addressed under the legacy system and did not involve new evidence or claims.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not rated higher than noncompensable due to infrequent attacks and lack of prostrating episodes.,A 10 percent rating for left leg instability is granted, with the condition being attributed to fibular fracture.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis in the left knee does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, but the claims for increased initial ratings are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald (28 Vet. App. 158) and Sharp v. Shulkin (29 Vet. App. 26).

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded his claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's waiver of recovery of overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits in the amount of $5,578.26 due to financial hardship and unjust enrichment.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors prior to the January 2022 decision on appeal and thus remanded for further development, including obtaining treatment records and affording the Veteran a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis and right knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat foot (pes planus).

Service connection for tinnitus and vertigo has been granted, while service connection for TBI, sleep apnea, low back pain arthritis, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (claimed as neuropathy), radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (claimed as neuropathy), right knee pain arthritis, left knee pain arthritis, right shin splints, left shin splints, right elbow and arm pain arthritis, left elbow and arm pain arthritis, right wrist pain arthritis, left wrist pain arthritis, right shoulder pain arthritis, left shoulder pain arthritis, right hip pain arthritis, left hip pain arthritis, right foot pain arthritis, and left foot pain arthritis have been denied.,Service connection for a left index finger arthralgia has been granted with an effective date of November 12, 2008. Service connection for lateral collateral ligament sprain and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle has been granted with an effective date of July 12, 2021.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg pain and a right ankle condition, chronic pain in the left hip and leg, IBS, and seborrheic dermatitis. The claim for headaches was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors, including a lack of VA examination for left leg and knee disabilities and inadequate medical opinions regarding hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to comply with the duty to assist, specifically regarding the adequacy of the VA examination provided at the time of the decision on appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to May 17, 2019 and a 40 percent rating from that date. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are caused by his service-connected fibromyalgia, PTSD, sleep apnea, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is caused by his service-connected back disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of coronary artery disease (CAD) and spinal fusion with lumbar stenosis and degenerative arthritis have been granted, effective from June 12, 2014, and May 7, 2018 respectively.,The claim for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted with a rating of 40 percent effective April 26, 2020. The Veteran's left foot disability remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that it began during active duty and has been recurrent since then.

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), is now considered service-connected.