Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left pinky finger disability due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury and no continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease, lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, osteoporosis right knee with degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical strain was previously rated at 10 percent prior to March 17, 2017 and increased to 30 percent from that date. The claim for a higher rating is REMANDED.,The Veteran's thoracic strain has been rated at 20 percent since February 26, 2021. The claim for a higher rating is also REMANDED.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and left knee strain are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and trochanteris pain syndrome, low back strain, right hip degenerative arthritis and trochanteris pain syndrome, and left shoulder strain.,Service connection is established for the appellant's preexisting left hip disorder as aggravated by a period of ACDUTRA.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of cervical discectomy, a back condition (degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and residuals of lumbar laminectomy), and right foot degenerative arthritis and residuals of 3rd MTP joint surgery. The conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ankle disability and service connection for right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now rated at a 10% disability evaluation for his degenerative arthritis of the right hand and left hand, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome in both upper extremities. The rating for his right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is remanded due to the passage of time since his last VA examination, additional service-connected disabilities granted, and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 18, 2012, but not earlier, for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy was granted. The claims for increased evaluations for left knee osteoarthritis and lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding the etiology of his right knee disorders. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected physical disabilities, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 29, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including gout, pes planus, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is remanded due to incomplete opinions in the previous VA examination. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied, and his rating for degenerative arthritis with disc disease and spinal stenosis was reduced from 40% to 10%. His claim for individual unemployability due to major depressive disorder was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus are granted with specific ratings. The left knee disability is granted at a 50% rating but no higher. Service connection for shrapnel wounds of the left hand is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report for assessing the Veteran's left ankle disability. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for her service-connected left Achilles tendon rupture and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating and TDIU due to inadequate previous VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, which was previously rated as 10%, 20%, and 40% prior to January 14, 2020, from January 14, 2020 to December 21, 2020, respectively. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU prior to January 14, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and left forearm disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to new evidence being associated with the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in its decision regarding TDIU and DEA benefits, specifically for the period prior to April 4, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are expected to be reassessed on remand.