Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right ankle disability was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, left ankle osteoarthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee strain are all found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to her military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right knee osteoarthritis are both rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision on appeal is remanded due to a lack of adequate VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain (previously back injury) will be reconsidered with an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for subluxation of the 4th metacarpal with degenerative arthritis is granted, and he is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the reduction in disability evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent for a back disability was improper and void ab initio, restoring the Veteran's original 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's claims for evaluation of osteoarthritis, both knees; service connection for right shoulder condition; and service connection for low back strain are remanded due to missed VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome were dismissed as the benefits sought have been granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a respiratory condition, peripheral arterial disease, stable angina, fevers (also claimed as Meningeal disease), and bilateral hearing loss were dismissed as the benefits sought have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability as defined by regulation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left ankle disability, finding that it was aggravated by service despite a pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, effective October 17, 2019. The Veteran was also awarded TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, which warranted a discharge for disability at the time of separation from service, qualifies him for VA home loan guaranty benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was remanded multiple times, and the effective dates were ultimately granted as of March 13, 2008.,Initial disability ratings greater than 20 percent are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine due to additional development being necessary, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for intermittent stomach ulcers, are dismissed due to prior Board decisions.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for tension headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted with a 70% rating, effective July 11, 2019.,His back disability is rated at 70%, and he also receives separate ratings for his right hip flail joint (80%).,Special monthly compensation (SMC) was granted from August 16, 2016, to July 21, 2020, and again from October 1, 2021, to August 10, 2022.

The Board has restored a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective March 1, 2021, finding that there was no sustained improvement in the severity of her condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a back disability due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination, and thus requires further medical opinion.