Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of accurate measurement of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, specifically regarding his forward flexion range of motion. The Veteran and his representative requested a new examination to ensure proper evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine due to lack of evidence linking it to active service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right hand disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tear is aggravated by his service-connected partial left foot drop with left knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, including glenohumbral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to a lack of an adverse credibility finding regarding his lay reports of an in-service injury. The case is now pending with further examination and review.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70% disability rating from May 18, 2014 to August 18, 2023. The cervical spine degenerative arthritis and right upper extremity radiculopathy are both denied for the entire initial rating period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for bilateral pes planus and an upper back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, has not met the criteria for a higher rating since June 30, 2013. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s symptoms have not resulted in forward thoracolumbar flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The reduction of the rating for cirrhosis of the liver to include hepatitis C from 60 percent to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2021, was improper and the 60 percent rating is restored. The Board also found that there were issues with service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, and eye disability due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's GERD, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis have been granted service connection. The effective date for the 50% rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is set at October 2, 2014. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee remains pending.

The Veteran's GERD, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis have been granted service connection. The effective date for the 50% rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is set at October 2, 2014. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for effective dates prior to August 18, 2020, for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and prior to March 21, 2022, for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The effective date for service connection was granted on August 18, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for chondrocalcinosis of the right wrist, enlarged prostate, and degenerative arthritis of both knees. Service connection was denied for a left wrist disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each for instability, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted. Higher evaluations are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, foot, hand, and elbow disabilities due to a motorcycle accident in service. Additional medical opinions are needed to address the relationship between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, left hip strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is granted as service-connected, based on in-service onset.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability is granted.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities (BLEs) due to his service-connected back disability is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, secondary to his service-connected Reiter's syndrome. The decision is based on a finding of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right and left ankle disorders, as well as chronic right and left knee disorders, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,For his chronic right shoulder disorder and chronic left shoulder disorder, the Veteran's claims were also denied.