Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as well as his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The VA will need to review the evidence and conduct further examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's request to increase the rating for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been withdrawn and is dismissed.,New evidence received since the April 2021 decision supports readjudicating the claims for service connection of left foot pain, right foot pain, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings higher than 20 percent for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities and an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate was denied.,The Veteran also appealed for initial increased disability ratings higher than 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left hand thumb, index, and long fingers associated with DM II. The appeal for right hand conditions was not addressed in this decision.

The propriety of the reduction of ratings for right ankle strain and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain from 10% to noncompensable effective April 1, 2025 is dismissed.,The propriety of the reduction of a rating for right knee osteoarthritis status post meniscectomy with residual pain from 20% to noncompensable effective April 1, 2025 is dismissed. The AOJ restored the 20% rating.

Service connection for onychomycosis has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as it represents a full grant of benefits.,The issue of duty to assist error having been identified during the higher-level review for onychomycosis is also dismissed.

The reduction of the evaluation from 50 percent to 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder was improper, and the 40 percent evaluation is restored.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, as secondary to his service-connected right knee strain and degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and strain residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of a stressor during service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, cardiomyopathy, HTN, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis were all denied due to lack of in-service injury or event.,There was no indication that the Veteran participated in toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) as he did not meet the requirements for a Persian Gulf War veteran. The STRs could not be located, and further efforts would have been futile.

The Veteran's tinnitus, neck disorder, and back disorder are all found to be related to service. The bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's tinnitus, neck disorder, and back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied. The current rating of 20 percent remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected bilateral pes planus with left foot degenerative arthritis and right foot fracture with degenerative arthritis. The VA will obtain medical opinions to determine the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected low back strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The Board has determined that the VA examination did not address whether the Veteran's flare-ups amount to functional ankylosis, which could affect the rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, a left forehead scar as secondary to PTSD with TBI, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have all been granted. These conditions are presumed related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam.,The Veteran served in Vietnam from November 1967 to November 1971, where he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) as an Aviation Supply Clerk. His service is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication on her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and instability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been present since service and are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff and labral tears as secondary to his service-connected status-post clavicle fracture. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of neck condition, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, lumbar strain, and GERD. As such, these claims are remanded to allow for readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity since service and no established link to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy were also denied as they are not secondary to a service-connected disability.