Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an infection, status post total right knee replacement is denied because he did not have a current disability characterized as an infection of the right knee during the claim period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back condition and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral knee and feet disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and neuropathy of the right hand. The AOJ will have an opportunity to review new evidence on remand.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate gland disability, hypothyroidism, right knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to procedural errors in the development process.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's statements are credible and supported by a positive nexus opinion from a VA medical examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a separate rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is at least as likely as not caused by an injury in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been granted, but the case is remanded due to issues with his left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative arthritis disability is rated at 40 percent from June 1, 2022. The rating reflects the severity of his condition which limits his ability to perform activities like bending and lifting.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to military service. Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew all claims for service connection, including those related to cervical condition (neck), left shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis, and peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity. The Board dismissed these issues as a result of the withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, initial rating for right shoulder disability, and rating for left shoulder scar from November 24, 2020 to February 5, 2021. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is reopened due to new evidence received after a prior denial.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher evaluation for lumbar spine disability.

The reduction of the Veteran's 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine was not proper, and the 10 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher rating due to the severity of their symptoms. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood is also rated at 10 percent.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied.

The Board has granted attorney fees in the amount of $608.82 for past-due benefits awarded in an April 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as secondary to NSAIDs used for his service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis status post discectomy and bilateral shoulder strain.

The Veteran's bilateral knee replacement surgery on February 13, 2019, is entitled to a temporary total disability rating under the old criteria for one year from April 1, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board finds there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities and that TDIU benefits are not warranted because the Veteran is not unable to obtain and sustain financially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.