Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is not a separate and distinct condition from his service-connected thoracotomy pain syndrome, thus denying a separate rating for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for chronic neuralgia and eustachian tube dysfunction due to withdrawal by the appellant. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is granted, but the cervical spine degenerative arthritis and scar from hernia repair are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is now rated at 40 percent effective November 7, 2010. The claim for increased evaluation of the right knee strain has been granted with a 10 percent initial evaluation effective May 2, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, have rendered him unemployable since at least 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 12, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, but denied service connection for right hip and right knee conditions due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's right thumb, index finger, long finger, ring and little finger disabilities have been granted a 10 percent rating each for painful motion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome and an increased rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lower spine, effective July 27, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left shoulder impingement, right shoulder impingement, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. A separate rating is also granted for left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted a 70% rating for the service-connected right hip disability, effective from May 1, 2019. The reduction in the rating was invalid due to improper grounds and the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 17, 2020. The condition is currently rated under Diagnostic Code 5242.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were granted initial ratings of 40 percent each, but no higher, for the periods prior to December 12, 2011 and March 4, 2013. Other claims related to PTSD, SMC, effective dates, and TDIU were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient discussion of medication effects, lack of definition application, and failure to obtain private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for a retrospective VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability prior to March 23, 2022. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is granted as secondary to her service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The cervical spine disorder and left knee disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the statement of reasons or bases for denying a higher disability rating for left foot plantar neuroma with degenerative arthritis and metatarsalgia. The Veteran's claim will be further developed by obtaining a retrospective opinion on the severity of her unilateral foot symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was granted, with the effective date being determined by the AOJ.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and a back condition have been granted service connection. The sinus condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and migraines are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's preexisting bilateral knee disabilities, finding that they were aggravated during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral eye disability (keratoconus), lumbar DDD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbar DDD, and right hip osteoarthritis. Service connection was denied for left hip disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability was not incurred or aggravated in active service and denied service connection.