Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral flat feet and degenerative arthritis, as well as osteoarthritis of the left and right ankles, have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome were improperly reduced. The original ratings have been reinstated.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to duty-to-assist errors in providing VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent, has been restored to its previous rating of 20 percent. The claim for a higher rating remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew all issues associated with the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected low back disability, including any flare-ups and their impact on function.

The Board has found a duty to assist error due to the Veteran's cancellation of VA examinations and remands the cases for further development, including scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service, including any in-service injuries or events.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis and right knee strain was denied, but the rating was changed to a higher evaluation of 10 percent since August 24, 2023.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The ratings for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radulopathy, and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy are also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) were granted initial disability ratings. The lumbar spine was rated at 40 percent from October 11, 2016 to February 22, 2018. The right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) received a higher rating of 20 percent from February 22, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as his VA Form 9, which he requested to reopen the claim, was not received within 60 days of the December 2013 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as his left ankle strain, are all granted with specific ratings. The Veteran is awarded a separate 10 percent rating for instability in the right knee, and a 20 percent rating for left ankle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from December 10, 2010, to December 20, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a direct relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and records to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, including any meniscus condition. The effective date for service connection remains September 25, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to appellate dispostion due to the inadequacy of the September 2018 VA examination for assessing the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest as chronic in service or within a presumptive period and was not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's eye condition is not service-connected, but has remanded the issue of arthritis/osteoarthritis for further development.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective as of November 13, 2017.