Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including osteoarthritis and radiculopathy, is related to an in-service fall. The Board has determined that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned for genital herpes comes before the Board on appeal from an August 2015 rating decision that adjudicated a June 2015 increased rating claim. The effective date for the 60 percent rating is granted as of June 16, 2015.,The Veteran's service connection claims for fatigue and involuntary leg and arm movements during sleep are remanded due to inadequate opinions provided by VA.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees due to a lack of medical evidence addressing the Veteran's assertions regarding her knee pain during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral foot conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 18, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives, as well as deficiencies in medical opinions provided.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder AC joint arthrosis and tendinitis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran's hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with Baker's cyst and meniscal tear is rated at 30 percent since September 12, 2012. The rating for limitation of extension was denied from February 22, 2023 to present. A temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence following right knee surgery has been granted multiple times. TDIU is granted effective July 13, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right hip and left hip osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected back and heart disabilities from August 25, 2014, to March 21, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee strain and osteoarthritis are related to his service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since May 23, 2016. The claim for a higher rating before that date remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted such an increase.

The Board has identified multiple issues related to the Veteran's hip and ankle conditions, as well as hypertension. These claims are being remanded for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain with spondylolysis and grade spondylolisthesis at L5-S1, and right hip degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, and lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder due to chronic pain and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and a higher rating for his right knee disability, leaving only the left knee issues unresolved. The Board dismissed these remaining issues as moot.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 20, 2013.