Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty.,Service connection was also granted for migraines, with the reasoning being that the Veteran reported experiencing these headaches since deployment.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since March 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for more contemporaneous examinations to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from service-connected right and left shoulder rotator cuff tear and back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for myalgia. The lumbar spine disability is found to be related to service, while the myalgia is not secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and right foot pes planus.,Service connection is also granted for right foot hallux valgus, but the issue is remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence associated with his case, specifically in-service complaints of back pain. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The appeal for a higher rating for the left shoulder disability is dismissed.,The appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to February 3, 2017, is dismissed.,The appeal for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to February 3, 2017, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with anxiety and insomnia, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 100 percent for loss of use of the right and left lower extremities, 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and 20 percent for status post left clavicular shaft fracture with arthritis.

The Board has denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability and has remanded the issue of increased rating for left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his thoracic spine and left knee disabilities has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant requested to withdraw all remaining issues, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss and higher evaluations for knee and shoulder conditions, due to a full grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his service-connected back condition are denied. The criteria for higher ratings have not been met prior to December 19, 2022, and after that date.

The Veteran's left thigh impairment is rated at 10 percent, as there is no evidence of limitation of rotation, adduction, or abduction beyond the required limits for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and bursitis are currently rated at zero percent, as his extension still permits more than 5 degrees of motion.,The Veteran's left hip limitation of flexion is also rated at zero percent, as he can still move to greater than 45 degrees.

The Veteran's right knee strain, status post-surgery with osteoarthritis is granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful limitation of flexion since August 1, 2013. A 30 percent rating is granted from August 1, 2013 to August 4, 2022 for painful limitation of extension. The Veteran's right knee strain with dislocated semilunar cartilage and slight instability are each granted separate ratings since August 1, 2013. A 20 percent rating is granted for the left ankle disability from December 23, 2013 to August 4, 2022. The Veteran's right foot disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

Service connection has been granted for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee lateral meniscus tear with osteoarthritis status post two arthroscopic procedures, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection, while his left knee and left ankle osteoarthritis are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by flexion limited to 50 degrees and full extension, is rated at 10 percent effective September 5, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical neck strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome are remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether he exhibits or has exhibited at any point since September 5, 2013, ankylosis or the functional equivalent of ankylosis of the cervical spine. The claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are also remanded.