Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee dislocated semilunar cartilage condition is granted with a 20 percent disability rating, effective July 8, 2021. The Board also finds an earlier effective date of November 30, 2017 for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, hernia, allergic rhinitis (allergies), and plantar fasciitis due to incomplete STRs and other procedural issues.,Specifically, the Veteran was not provided proper notification regarding her STRs as required by 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the spine have been granted. The claim for a dental disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right foot and ankle disabilities and his service. The Veteran contends that he injured his right foot and ankle during service, but there is no definitive evidence of a stress fracture or other injury in-service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle sprain, left foot pes planus with degenerative arthritis, and right foot pes planus with degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to his service-connected right ankle strain residuals.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, effective July 2, 2018.,A 20 percent rating was assigned for right lower extremity radiculopathy, also effective July 2, 2018.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left foot conditions, including pes planus and osteoarthritis. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for OSA was granted. Entitlement to a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease and compression fracture at T-11 and T-12 has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal in February 2024.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record. The AOJ needs to review this additional evidence and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar scar has been granted. The issue of rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as his left knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and he was found to be capable of maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are not wholly adequate and have not addressed all relevant evidence, including private examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions may warrant higher or separate ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cough, chronic fatigue, and chronic headache. The claim for erectile dysfunction is also granted.,Service connection for posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee was previously established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was incurred in or caused by service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further clarification and examination regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine and left knee disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's low back condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,Prior to October 19, 2023, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,From October 19, 2023, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.