Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, claimed as cervical strain with muscle pain and arthritis, is granted.,The Veteran's chronic right trapezius disorder is granted.,The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and entitlement to a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of continuous neck pain symptoms since separation from active duty.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 19, 2018 for right shoulder joint replacement under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and a rating in excess of 80 percent for his service-connected right shoulder disability. The claim for TDIU is also denied.,TDIU was denied as the Veteran's education and experience would qualify him for non-physical or sedentary work, despite his service-connected disabilities preventing physical labor.

The Veteran's request for restoration of a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, from September 28, 2018, to August 5, 2023, is granted. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of motion is also granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim based on the aggregate effect of her service-connected disabilities is granted effective January 20, 2021.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from the Veteran's private physician and readjudicating the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as none of her service-connected disabilities, alone, are severe enough to prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, and a right knee condition need further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the medical opinions provided did not support a link between the current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left foot hallux valgus is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a current service-connected disability, but remands his claims for additional examinations to determine the severity of his left knee and cervical spine disabilities as well as his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions, failure to address continuity of symptomatology, and lack of relevant STR notations. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether his low back disability and headache disorder are related to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and/or bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular rating for right and left knee disabilities prior to the specified dates due to the adequacy of the assigned schedular ratings.,The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or multiple disabilities independently rated at 60%, nor was he permanently housebound.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected back conditions and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and left shoulder degenerative arthritis. Service connection is also sought for a left hip disability, but the matter is REMANDED to obtain an opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, a right foot disability with frostbite residuals, and a back disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is instructed to provide additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted based on the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. The Veteran also received Individual Unemployability benefits as of March 7, 2019.

The Veteran's total disability rating for coronary artery disease renders his TDIU claim moot, as the other service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. The effective date of the 100% rating is March 14, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and right ankle degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The skin condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several of his service-connected conditions have been remanded by the Board. The issues include right upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and right elbow medial epicondylitis and strain.