Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence of its onset during active service or as a result of a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a finding that he was in need of such assistance.

Service connection for a right knee disability, dermatitis, and thyroid cancer has been granted due to new evidence received after the April 2020 denial. Service connection for GERD is remanded as secondary to tooth condition.,The Veteran's right knee disability had its onset in service, while his dermatitis began shortly after discharge from active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection was established for left and right knee disabilities, as well as left and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder bursitis and denied service connection for right shoulder bursitis and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The decision is based on evidence in equipoise regarding left shoulder bursitis, but against a finding of service connection for right shoulder bursitis and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has identified legal defects in the previous opinions and has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the obstructive sleep apnea from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right shoulder strain, and left shoulder tendonitis) render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal challenging the proposed rating reduction from 70 percent to 30 percent for service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 60 percent effective from July 22, 2020, for status-post right total knee replacement with osteoarthritis is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status, as he is able to leave his home for medical appointments and grocery shopping.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip avascular necrosis and degenerative arthritis, as well as increased ratings for his left knee condition.,The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's hip or knee conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for readjudicating service connection claims for various conditions, as the underlying merits of these claims have already been adjudicated by the AOJ and the appeal is moot due to finality or lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any relevant diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and denied an increased rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability. The left ankle sprain is found to be related to service, while the back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20% disability rating for his low back disability was granted. However, the appeal for a higher than 20% disability rating was denied.

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the conditions began during service as a farrier.

The Board grants an effective date of February 18, 2009, for the grant of service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (previously claimed as a degenerative neck from jumping) and LUE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeals for right C8-T1 motor radiculopathy and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee condition, right ankle condition, and radiculopathy, right lower extremity associated with lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome caused or aggravated the claimed conditions of left hip strain with osteoarthritis with small acetabular osteophytes, right hip strain with osteoarthritis with small acetubular osteophytes, left knee Hodgkins Schlatter disease with pain, and calcaneal spur, left ankle pain.