Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine conditions due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for additional ratings under different diagnostic codes and separate rating for nonunion with loose movement or analogous to loose movement, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the March 1998 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis s/p medial and lateral meniscectomies with chondromalacia and medial instability, right knee was granted effective October 25, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder bicipital and rotator cuff tendonitis with rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, as well as left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The decision also noted that the Veteran's bilateral hip condition was remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current shoulder conditions or hip condition to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis, degenerative arthritis, and lumbar strain prior to July 2, 2021, and 40 percent thereafter is granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 2, 2021, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 19, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claim for spina bifida occulta with degenerative arthritis and osteopenia is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature of his pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective October 5, 2023.,Entitlement to DEA benefits was also granted effective October 5, 2023.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities due to deficiencies in previous VA opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified medical expert.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, but remanded the claim for a compensable rating for sleep apnea.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left hip disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Board has granted restoration of the 40 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective December 18, 2024. The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required to determine if any current thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, scoliosis, and lumbar radiculopathy, are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear was granted a separate 20 percent rating.,An initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date due to a lack of retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his bilateral knee conditions prior to November 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and an updated opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), and residuals of zygomatic arch fracture are being remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant VA treatment records and inadequate medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no new evidence to reopen the previously denied GERD and low back disability claims, but granted a higher rating of 10% for right knee PFPS from July 26, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination. The issue at hand is whether the Veteran should receive an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his major depressive disorder associated with lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome.