Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to comply with prior directives, including obtaining a VA medical opinion that considers the significance of Reserve service and periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, but the issue of service connection for abdominal pain is remanded.,Service connection will be further evaluated and a new opinion requested to determine if the Veteran's current abdominal pain is related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active service or any service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that secondary service connection could not be established.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service accident.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as the previous examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, PTSD, and a heart disability have been granted with effective dates of June 3, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The issues of service connection for neurological impairment of the bilateral lower extremities are also remanded as VA failed to fulfill its duty to assist.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee meniscal tear, have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each. The effective date for these awards is October 3, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 2018.

The Veteran's appeal seeking earlier effective dates for ratings of left and right femoral radiculopathy is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking earlier effective dates for ratings of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic) is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking earlier effective dates for ratings of cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and right upper extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking earlier effective dates for ratings of left upper extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied. The current evaluations of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, are found to be appropriate based on the evidence.

The Board has granted the reinstatement of the effective date for a 30 percent rating for a right knee disability to February 7, 2021. The Veteran's claim was continuously pursued and VA is responsible for determining whether the evidence supports the claim or is in relative equipoise.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including osteoarthritis, partial knee arthroplasty, baker cyst, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are secondary to his service-connected right total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 25, 2003 for TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits since that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected fracture right knee, tibial plateau and anterior fibula with painful motion was denied. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was established but combined with the existing disability evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 25, 2015. Effective March 7, 2016, the Veteran was awarded SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with IVDS, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and osteoarthritis of the left hip. The Veteran's disabilities are deemed to have started during his active duty.