Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability, with obesity serving as an intermediate step in the development of this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and femoral nerve was granted effective February 11, 2019.,A subsequent increased rating for the back disability was also granted effective August 6, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder condition. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, right knee disability, and left knee disability, do not meet or approximate the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to have begun during active duty or be related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for low back disorder has been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea and GERD.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder, asthma, and right wrist osteoarthritis are all granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) is established based on evidence showing its onset during active duty. Service connection for asthma is also established as it had its onset during active duty. Right wrist osteoarthritis is causally related to military service.

The Veteran's disability rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine DDD, spondylosis, and stenosis is granted at a 40 percent effective from August 8, 2018. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is caused by her service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a back disorder. The Veteran's knee strains are not considered related to his service.,Service connection was also denied for a left leg disorder other than the knee strain, and a right leg disorder other than the knee strain and sciatica.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the spine were granted ratings, with the radiculopathy receiving a 20% rating effective February 19, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, nor could it establish continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent prior to March 1, 2021. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted with effective dates of March 7, 1981, February 13, 2014, and February 13, 2014 respectively.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and private medical opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes, necessitating a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for each condition. No higher ratings are available under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to new evidence received after the previous denial. The Board found that the evidence is relevant but not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for each of the service-connected right and left thumb arthritis, index finger arthritis, long finger arthritis, ring and little finger arthritis. The ratings are effective as of August 21, 2020.

The Board has readjudicated the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to new evidence received after the previous denial. The Board found that the evidence is relevant but not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his back condition is not causally or etiologically related to an injury, disease, or incident during service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.