Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his cervical spine, right shoulder, left hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The effective dates remain at September 12, 2011.

The Veteran's right knee disability, GERD, acquired mental health condition (excluding PTSD), and bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's hernia, left side, groin muscle disability, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, left ear injury, throat gland disability, and ear wart disability have not been established as service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a bilateral foot condition, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or any other compensable conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, left knee degenerative arthritis, and hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to any compensable rating for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring further medical opinion and development.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was received on November 10, 2019. The Board found that an earlier effective date of November 10, 2019, but no earlier, is warranted as it is the earliest effective date available at law under the facts of this case.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are found to be the proximate cause of his intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)/degenerative arthritis of the spine/spinal stenosis and left hip degenerative arthritis, thus granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that his current condition is related to a fall in service and establishing continuity of symptoms since discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to untimely submission of the VA Form 10182. The claims of chest pain and right shoulder condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically missing range of motion assessments and failure to address functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and to obtain additional examination findings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior rating decisions. The Board is unable to assess the severity of these conditions without additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal involves the need for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for various service-connected conditions including cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathies. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his right hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and clarification of the effective dates and diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial ratings for thoracolumbar spine scoliosis with osteoarthritis and left shoulder bursitis prior to June 21, 2023 were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's ankle surgeries and degenerative arthritis have been granted temporary total disability ratings, a 20% evaluation for residuals of the surgeries, and denied higher evaluations for his degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 28, 2022 is remanded due to the need for additional development and referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.