Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, left foot disability, and anxiety disorder was granted. A 40 percent rating was assigned for the right knee disability, effective August 15, 2019. The claims of service connection for other conditions were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed because he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including strain and meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, is rated at 10 percent. A separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability has been granted.

The appeal challenging the reduction in ratings for right knee disability (extension) and instability is denied. The reductions were supported by clinical findings during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye conditions and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as a TERA examination related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and potential errors in the initial rating decision. The issues include low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, neck disability, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new in-person VA examination is needed to determine the appropriate rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee tendonitis with degenerative arthritis. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and migraine headaches, including as secondary to PTSD. The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions on previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted as March 9, 2020. The Board found the Veteran was permanently and totally disabled on that date.

The Veteran's retroactive VA compensation benefits totaling $19,171.00 and $13,421.00 were properly paid via direct deposit to his bank account at Comerica Bank in 2012. The appeal is denied as the Veteran did not receive these payments.

The Board has remanded the claims for left shoulder strain, lower back pain, right foot pain, left foot pain, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Service connection is denied for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is static and does not show material improvement for more than five years, thus making a permanent rating possible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining adequate VA opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision, leaving no issues for review.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, anxiety, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle, and osteoarthritis of the right hip as secondary to pes planus (severe), hammer toes, hallux valgus.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to pes planus (severe), hammer toes, hallux valgus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection and insufficient evidence to support presumptive service connection. The Board also found conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the condition is secondary or aggravated by his service-connected hallux rigidus.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a psychiatric disability (depressive disorder). The Veteran's current diagnoses of left knee strain, degenerative arthritis, and depressive disorder are supported by the evidence. The Board found that there is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had their onset during service.,The decision also notes that the Veteran reported symptoms such as pain and anxiety during service, which may have contributed to his current psychiatric condition.