Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals concerning disability ratings and service connections have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hypertension, fracture of the left middle finger with degenerative arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and osteoarthritis of the feet. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of aggravation or chronicity of symptoms related to these conditions during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip strain and primary osteoarthritis, as well as right hip strain and primary osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective April 19, 2019. The claims for service connection of hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy as proximately due to this condition, migraine headaches, dizziness, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a skin disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee joint osteoarthritis. The claim for restoration of the 40 percent rating for a left ankle disability was also denied. However, the Veteran is now granted a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to an in-service injury during combat operations.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, cervical spine DDD with cervical radiculopathy, and bilateral upper extremity CTS. Service connection is denied for a right thumb condition, right shoulder strain with osteoarthritis, and left and right upper extremity neurological disorders.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis, finding that there is no evidence linking the current disability to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's in-service duties likely caused his current condition.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity is now rated at 20 percent, effective June 20, 2022.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for mood disorder due to chronic pain as secondary to his service-connected conditions of residuals right radial fracture, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, was incurred during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The decision is in favor of granting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder (degenerative arthritis of spine with intervertebral disc syndrome).,However, the Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hip strain due to a lack of adequate VA examination/medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis is denied. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 3, 2016.

An effective date of August 4, 2023 is granted for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.,A compensable rating of 10 percent is granted for bilateral little finger degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, as well as a left knee disability (osteoarthritis), finding that these conditions are the result of the appellant's military service.

The Veteran's appeals concerning his ratings and service connection for ankle, shin splints, and malleolar fractures have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis with IVDS resulted in bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which was granted increased ratings of 20% for LLE sciatic and femoral radiculopathy from March 11, 2020, and 30% for RLE sciatic and femoral radiculopathy from the same date.