Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal regarding his claim of service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, back, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's hypertension is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including a thorough examination of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, including during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any neurological disorders and whether service connection can be established for these conditions. The VA examiners have provided opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities and his claimed neurological conditions, but further clarification is required.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions, as well as a rating greater than 30 percent for migraines from March 17, 2016 to April 22, 2021. The issues of service connection for bilateral ankle, digestive, skin, bilateral shin splints, respiratory conditions, entitlement to TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were remanded.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his right shoulder disability was denied. The VA determined that the Veteran's condition, which includes strain, impingement syndrome, labral tear, and osteoarthritis, is currently manifested by limitation of motion to 45 degrees (midway between side and shoulder level), warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and cervical spine are currently rated at 20 percent, which is denied as not meeting criteria for a higher rating. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for right hip arthritis as secondary to COPD because the Notice of Disagreement did not identify a specific rating decision with which the Veteran disagreed.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is not deemed a qualifying additional disability due to VA care, and the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 has been denied.

Service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to hypertension is granted.,The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis, status-post right hip replacement, including femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, was assigned a 90 percent rating effective from September 25, 2024.,Earlier effective dates for the 30 percent ratings for osteoarthritis and a degenerative rotator cuff of each shoulder are denied as there is no evidence of record in the one year period prior to September 25, 2024, that these criteria were met.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease including intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and lumbosacral strain with arthritis was assigned a 40 percent rating effective from August 29, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of atrial fibrillation, paralysis of the median nerve (right hand carpal tunnel), and bilateral knee disability. Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with Intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for left knee instability have been denied, with the most recent rating of 20 percent from April 16, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes, deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.

The Veteran's degenerative hip conditions, right and left, are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and/or bilateral knee degenerative arthritis.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle ankylosis and instability have been denied. The 10 percent rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis status post fracture remains unchanged, while the 30 percent rating for right ankle instability has been reduced.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is related to his military service, and he has been granted service connection for this condition.,His right arm radiculopathy is also related to his military service, specifically due to a previous injury sustained during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.