Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that his migraines were characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful or limited motion at times due to pain and other factors, but with full extension to 0 degrees and flexion to greater than 30 degrees, was found not to warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned since 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected PTSD, right knee disabilities, and effective date claims. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records, arranging for examinations of the Veteran's right knee surgical scars and ligament injuries, and addressing the evaluation and effective date issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right hip disorder, including whether it is related to service. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine this.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and inadequate medical evidence regarding whether the appellant's diagnosed bilateral foot disability was incurred or aggravated during her ACDUTRA service from February 1983 to April 1983. The VA must obtain the appellant's complete service records and provide an addendum opinion to address these issues.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with depression is rated at 50 percent effective April 22, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence received is both new and relevant, and thus the appeals are granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence received is considered new and relevant, warranting a readjudication of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis with instability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his military service, specifically running and marching up hills with heavy packs.

The Board has granted service connection for knee strain, right with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have continued through the present day.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back condition (claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder), right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Board found that new evidence submitted by the Veteran supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disabilities caused his left wrist osteoarthritis and aggravated it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the Veteran's request for AOJ review of this evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with DDD is granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, effective February 4, 2015.

The Veteran's ratings for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy are restored to their effective dates. The Veteran is also remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including whether he has right lower extremity radiculopathy.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. Increased ratings are granted for IVDS with degenerative arthritis and vertebral fracture with bilateral thoracic radiculopathy of the ventral and dorsal ramus nerves, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left ankle pilon fracture residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal stenosis of the cervical spine and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to incomplete development and lack of a clear opinion regarding the onset of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's right foot degenerative arthritis with pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and hammer toes is rated at 30 percent from November 14, 2022 through March 22, 2023. The separate rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right foot remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for her service-connected right foot disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support entitlement to such a higher rating from September 15, 2014.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's right and left Achilles tendonitis, as well as his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's complete periods of active duty and obtain any service treatment records from those periods.