Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, but has found that there are issues with service connection for left knee osteoarthritis without dysplasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to missing private treatment records from Dr. S.M. at South Shore Medical Center, which are necessary for a complete evaluation of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the claims for higher disability ratings for various foot and knee disabilities. The issue of entitlement to an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is also remanded due to its interrelated nature with the remanded claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability (diagnosed as cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis) based on the Veteran's credible assertions of neck pain during service and continued symptoms after separation.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, degenerative changes/spondylosis of the lumbar region, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee were denied service connection as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

Effective dates of April 8, 2003, for service connection were granted for degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine; radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity; radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity; radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity; radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity. Effective date of May 17, 2012, for service connection was granted for a traumatic brain injury with posttraumatic headaches. An effective date prior to February 8, 2016, for urinary incontinence was denied.,An earlier effective date of April 8, 2003, is granted for the awards of service connection for disabilities of the thoracolumbar spine and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. An effective date of May 17, 2012, is granted for the award of service connection for posttraumatic headaches due to traumatic brain injury. No earlier effective date is granted for urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is found to be related to his active-duty service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left knee has been denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a fungal condition of the head, which was previously denied due to lack of evidence, is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left ankle osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee and shin disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to duty-to-assist errors in previous examinations.

The Board has restored the 30 percent rating for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and denied the restoration of the 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis effective March 23, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition, which was initially granted but at a low level (10%), is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous examination and the need for a new one that considers flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, chronic sinusitis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and radiculopathy. The Veteran's current diagnoses of arthritis of the back and chronic sinusitis are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran was previously granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the Board is now remanding the case to clarify whether he was enrolled in school full-time and obtain his complete VA vocational rehabilitation records.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity neurological disability, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The decision is based on evidence showing current diagnoses and a causal relationship.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbosacral spine and sleep apnea with sleep disturbances were dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 and good cause was not shown.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 22, 2016 for service connection for left elbow lateral epicondylitis and right knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for limitation of extension and flexion of the left elbow were also denied as they are not related to the original claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and degenerative arthritis with enthesophyte, as well as left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, both found to be secondary to her service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding no evidence that it is related to service or his service-connected left sciatic nerve involvement associated with post-herpetic pain syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, including degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.