Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted.,Claims for service connection for right hip strain with osteoarthritis and left hip strain with osteoarthritis have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder is granted service connection. The cervical spine condition is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, restless leg syndrome, CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), fibromyalgia, recurrent ulcer disability to include gastric ulcers, and heart disability to include coronary heart disease have been granted. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is based on new evidence submitted since the last decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective October 3, 2019. The claims for a gastrointestinal disability other than IBS and left shoulder degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a spine disability and right leg radiculopathy due to potential errors in obtaining an adequate VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to warrant readjudication was received for the claims of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right hand and a right-hand ring finger condition. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for right knee osteoarthritis, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's current low back condition is at least as likely as not related to his fall on a rail while in service, and the Board finds him entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, status-post total hip replacement, finding that it did not manifest during or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to any incident of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity sciatica pain, and left lower extremity sciatica pain. The appeal was not granted as the Veteran did not continuously pursue his claim within one year of the April 2019 decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected left and right knee degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopies are being remanded due to a failure to consider the evidence of record regarding pain with weight-bearing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected bilateral hearing loss warranted a compensable rating.,The Board found that the Veteran's right and left shoulder tendonitis, and right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to service, including the March 2009 fall during military training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, including degenerative arthritis, is related to his service-connected right hip condition and grants service connection for this condition as secondary.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine including bilateral sacroiliitis with sclerosis of the sacroiliac joints was denied. The Board has determined that an updated VA examination is needed to properly rate this disability, specifically whether separate ratings are warranted for associated neurological disability (radiculopathy).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an upper back/neck condition and right knee osteoarthritis and osteomalacia due to new evidence received after the initial decision. The Veteran's attorney raised a secondary service connection theory, but this cannot be considered as a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis (claimed as lumbar sprain) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and limitation of extension prior to January 21, 2023, is denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and painful motion/limitation of flexion prior to January 21, 2023, is also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and limitation of extension prior to January 21, 2023, is denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and painful motion/limitation of flexion prior to January 21, 2023, is also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to new and relevant evidence submitted since previous rating decisions.