Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition, including degenerative arthritis, finding that there is relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether his current disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status or need for regular aid and attendance prior to December 14, 2019 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he required regular assistance.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD has been dismissed.,An earlier effective date of September 29, 2015 has been granted for the 70 percent rating for PTSD.,An earlier effective date of September 29, 2015 has also been granted for TDIU.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) has been granted from November 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disorders due to a motor vehicle accident in 1971. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, mild degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity sciatica, and PTSD are being remanded due to incomplete development. Additional records need to be obtained, including VA treatment records from VistA Imaging and private chiropractic and physical therapy records. The Veteran's work history must also be updated.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete medical records. The VA will obtain all the missing treatment records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under current rating criteria, with no evidence of additional limitation or instability warranting higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left leg tibia and fibula malunion with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis and DDD with neural impingement at the C6-C7 disc, and right shoulder tendonitis and arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis and right hip strain are granted service connection as they were incurred during active duty.,The Veteran's heart palpitations are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obesity, which is a component in determining whether his service-connected orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities cause or aggravate his obesity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The issue of service connection for right knee disability (secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and other conditions. The underlying merits of these claims are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder has been granted a 40 percent rating from April 6, 2012 and continuing thereafter.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches, a back condition, a neck condition, and a left shoulder condition. The Veteran's disabilities are not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's left ankle strain and osteoarthritis prior to July 7, 2015 were rated at 20 percent. From November 1, 2015 to October 12, 2020, the Veteran was granted a separate rating of 10 percent for instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, with the majority of issues being granted. Service connection is now established for neck disability and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, and a low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hammertoe.