Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) and higher rate of SMC based on the need for a higher level of aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) is denied due to lack of eligibility for compensation at the maximum rate or intermediate rate authorized.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected, and a rating of at least 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 21, 2020 is granted. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as a remand is required for an initial compensable rating for right lower extremity scars.

The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent from September 13, 2018. The claim for earlier effective date of January 2, 2018 for the grant of service connection for right knee instability has been granted. New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for left knee condition and back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee joint osteoarthritis had its onset during service and continues to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the cervical spine disability prior to June 3, 2022 and remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar and LLE radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were received within one year of his retirement and remained pending until they were adjudicated in an August 2015 rating decision. The effective dates for the awards of service connection are set at July 1, 1995.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's knee conditions due to his death.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 19, 2023. The Board denied higher ratings for the lumbar spine disability prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right heel and/or ankle condition due to inadequate opinions in the March 2023 VA examination, as well as the need to obtain private medical records related to his treatment.

The Veteran's neck disability was granted a rating of 30 percent effective as of August 7, 2020. The back disability was also granted a rating of 40 percent effective as of January 28, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left and right knees is related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an eye condition, right knee disability, and back disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence. The eye condition claim was denied as there is no diagnosed eye condition other than refractive errors. Right knee and back disability claims require further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports the readjudication of claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and neck disability.,The Board has also determined that new and relevant evidence supports the readjudication of claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and neck disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examinations in prior remands. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the rating issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities due to additional evidence received after the appeal was certified to the Board. The TDIU claim is also being returned to the AOJ as it is intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The disabilities are found to be related to his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral knee conditions and service connection for bilateral ankle conditions have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition has been remanded due to uncertainty regarding the etiology of his current foot conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to conflicting opinions regarding his left deltoid disability and hearing loss. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his degenerative arthritis of the lower back as secondary to his service-connected right knee strain, left knee laxity, and left knee degenerative joint disease.