Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has restored a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion, effective August 1, 2021. The reduction from 30 to 10 percent was improper due to insufficient evidence demonstrating actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for the right shoulder disorder. The claims for lumbar spine, left hip, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has decided that an effective date of January 21, 2016, but no earlier, is granted for the award of service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and cervicalgia. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating in excess of 30 percent from August 21, 2017, for the cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability from December 10, 2012 to April 14, 2021 was denied. For the period from December 3, 2021 to April 14, 2021, he received a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's disability ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral upper extremities were restored to their original levels due to procedural errors in reducing these ratings.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 9, 2020 for the Veteran's service connection of right hip osteoarthritis with degenerative arthritis. The earliest communication regarding this condition was in the Veteran's July 9, 2020 claim.

The appeal was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's back disability and neck disability were denied increased ratings.,A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee limitation of flexion.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability as secondary to the appellant's service-connected bilateral foot condition, left shoulder strain, and now-granted lumbar spine disability.,The decision also grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, claimed as secondary to his right ankle fracture, is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran's left hip condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board's decision has been vacated due to procedural error, and the appeal is dismissed as a result.

The VA has already granted a 30% rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis effective May 24, 2021. This appeal is dismissed because the November 2021 rating decision was merely an effectuation of the October 2021 Board decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee and lumbar spine arthritis. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an inflammatory bowel disorder and increased rating for right thumb strain. The left knee osteoarthritis case is denied as the Veteran's disability does not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease with urinary problems and related conditions, have rendered him unable to ambulate without the aid of assistive devices. As a result, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, finding that no claim was submitted within one year of her discharge from active duty or prior to February 22, 2021.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 30 percent prior to the decision, is now granted a 60 percent rating due to incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that an examination is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, which may be related to his service-connected right ankle DJD. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.