Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claims for cervical strain and right knee disorders have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck condition and a left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence supports a link between his back condition and his leg pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that there was no direct evidence linking his current degenerative arthritis to his military service. The Board also noted that continuity of symptomatology since service could not be established and that presumptive service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange or other conditions did not apply.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201 for limitation of motion. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including right upper extremity radiculopathy with muscle atrophy, major depressive disorder, and other disabilities, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, prepare meals, attend to the wants of nature, and require assistance for driving. The Board has determined that SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left foot disabilities due to outstanding private treatment records from Dr. Groner that have not been obtained.

The Board has determined that there is new and relevant evidence to consider regarding the Veteran's claims for right knee joint osteoarthritis and depression. The case is being remanded for further review.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and lung cancer, finding that new evidence did not warrant readjudication but also noting that there was no herbicide exposure to support a presumption.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 1, 2017 for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy, right lower extremity.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology, including whether it was caused or aggravated by her service-connected left hip bursitis, limitation of flexion; extension; thigh impairment; and right knee tendinitis.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, left hip strain with limited flexion, right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy were granted effective May 23, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for left hip strain with thigh impairment, left hip strain with limited extension, and left hip strain with limited flexion were denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board does not find evidence to support a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, with no indication of a need for a higher rating based on the provided information.,The Veteran's right shoulder strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, knee, and foot conditions are found to have started during service and continue to present. Service connection is granted for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, finding that his current back disorders are due to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, but did not find exceptional or unusual symptoms warranting an extraschedular rating.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to October 26, 2020 of a 30 percent increased rating for his left knee disability was denied as the Veteran did not timely appeal the June 2011 rating decision and there is no evidence of a request to reopen the claim within one year before the October 2020 increase in rating.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, tear, dislocation, impingement syndrome, and strain with osteoarthritis from August 1, 2020. It granted an increased rating of 30 percent for right shoulder strain with osteoarthritis from May 18, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by active-duty service, and she is granted service connection for this condition.,Her sarcoidosis is found to have onset during her military service and is related thereto. She is therefore granted service connection for this condition.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the Veteran's right hip degenerative arthritis and active-duty service, and she is denied service connection for this condition.