Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine arthritis are granted as service-connected. The left shoulder disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has restored service connection for spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the original severance decisions were improper due to clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and fracture of the body due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current medical evidence.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board notes that unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine has not been established.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and related disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left hip replacement, and degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, were evaluated. The rating for active process rheumatoid arthritis was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 40 percent rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 23, 2019 for a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip disorder, left thumb osteoarthritis, and left wrist osteoarthritis. The Veteran's OCD claim is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, lordotic thoracolumbar spine with osteoarthritis and scoliosis, and sinusitis to allow for a new VA examination. The examiner will be asked to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent since November 1, 2021. His PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective July 27, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee degenerative joint disease were denied. The effective date for the awards was not established.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus is denied as the evidence does not support a direct relationship to service.,The claims for left ankle and right ankle disabilities are denied due to lack of current diagnoses or established continuity of symptoms.,Service connection for left hand degenerative arthritis is denied because there is no persuasive evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for left knee osteoarthritis with flexion impairment is granted, effective January 6, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of extension secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain and osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety and PTSD, was denied. Service connection was granted for lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (secondary to cervical spine arthritis), right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the claims file, which includes missing documents from July and August 2018. The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for right hip osteoarthritis awards is now pending.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral disorder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his bilateral knee disabilities, finding that no claim was filed prior to January 2021.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher rating for PTSD, and the cases were remanded for further evaluation of other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back condition and bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee and foot conditions.