Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including internal derangement with osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis, was rated at 10 percent prior to February 15, 2021. Since August 1, 2021, the Veteran has been rated at 60 percent for chronic residuals of a left knee replacement surgery. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence supporting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating for hip disabilities, as well as a remand for a back disability, is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right foot disability is related to service, specifically if it was aggravated by a preexisting condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current headache disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's initial rating for right wrist degenerative arthritis and carpal tunnel syndromes was denied, but a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent was granted for the right wrist disability from July 12, 2022. The ratings for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome remain at 20 percent and 30 percent respectively.

The Veteran's right wrist osteoarthritis, bone cysts, and ganglion cysts are granted service connection. The bilateral foot condition (claimed as gout) is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, adjustment disorder with anxiety, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and other conditions were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 20 percent rating for her right knee meniscal tear from September 25, 2019. Other increased ratings were also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of whiplash injuries to the shoulders and granted a TDIU rating from September 9, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to the appellant's death.

The Board has restored the prior disability ratings of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and ligamentous strain with instability, right knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and its relationship to his current diagnoses. The issues of increased rating for recurrent low back strain and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy are being returned to VA for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral eye condition, lumbar spine disability, and headaches due to insufficient medical opinions. Additional development is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee degenerative arthritis status-post joint replacement. The issues of entitlement to service connection for neck disability and shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen her claims for coccyx disability, right ankle deltoid ligament strain, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings of her right ankle deltoid ligament strain and left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, combined with other service-connected conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 2019. From that date onward, his PTSD alone meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU from December 1, 2013, to February 23, 2015. For other periods, his combined disability rating was sufficient for TDIU.