Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and benefits have been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for his bilateral knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left ankle strain. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder cuff arthropathy, status post right shoulder surgery, osteoarthritis of right glenohumeral, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee pain due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding whether his current condition is related to active service. The case will be returned for further review and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's left knee, right knee, and back disabilities are all granted service connection.,An effective date of November 4, 2017, is granted for the 10% rating increase for a painful surgical thyroid scar.

The Veteran's spine disability was reduced from 20% to 10%, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy was also reduced from 20% to 10%. The reduction in the rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted, but a higher rating is denied. The reduction in the rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy (sciatic) is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right chronic wrist sprain, left shoulder calcified tendonitis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and both upper extremity radiculopathies. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 30, 2009 for the grant of a TDIU and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 3, 2019.,TDIU is granted from June 3, 2019. The appeal for TDIU from October 9, 2018 to June 3, 2019 is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, left knee pain, and right knee pain are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy from 20 percent to 20 percent, effective June 1, 2022.

The Board has found the claim remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic conditions, including right shoulder osteoarthritis with impingement syndrome, left knee and hip chondromalacia, left ankle tendonitis, major depressive disorder, bilateral stress fractures, and a residual fracture of the right middle finger have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for awards related to housebound status, Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability, herpes simplex, and TBI service connection issues due to insufficient evidence or error in development.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2020 VA examination and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated as compensable, as his diastolic pressure did not predominantly reach 100 or more.,SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted with an effective date of November 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for SLE with scarring alopecia and bilateral knee osteoarthritis prior to May 11, 2021 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of SMC at the housebound rate was granted from May 4, 2010.

The Board has restored the Veteran's rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine from 40 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2022, finding that the reduction was improper due to a failure to consider applicable regulations.