Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 40 percent from March 17, 2004 to November 4, 2005 due to forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being 30 degrees or less. The rating is effective as of March 17, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his lumbar spine and right wrist conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis of the right wrist.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, associated with lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding no current diagnosis of LLE radiculopathy and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The case needs a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder condition has been dismissed as he withdrew the claim in June 2020.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his TDIU claim and bilateral hearing loss rating were both denied. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 100% combined disability rating due to service-connected coronary artery disease, but the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on any single service-connected condition other than his coronary artery disease. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, but no higher, since December 20, 2013.,TDIU was granted from April 1, 2017, to September 12, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the appeals for service connection for various foot disabilities and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence or further development needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and right foot disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted at 40 percent effective September 3, 2013, to September 4, 2018. The Veteran's increased ratings for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right and left lower extremities are also granted.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, low back strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, ventral hernia, allergic rhinitis, and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claim for bilateral dry eye syndrome was granted.,Service connection was not established for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis with status post-surgical repair of medial meniscus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to active duty or any period of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to April 1, 2021. From April 1, 2021 onward, the evidence is at least in approximate balance and the benefit of the doubt will be afforded to the Veteran.

The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was increased to 40 percent effective December 7, 2021. The claimant is not entitled to a higher rating prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow degenerative arthritis and bursitis due to a lack of adequate VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of his current right elbow disabilities. The Veteran contends that his current right elbow conditions are related to in-service right elbow bursitis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for left hip degenerative arthritis (limitation of rotation of the thigh) is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for left hip degenerative arthritis (flexion of thigh) from February 12, 2019 to July 27, 2020 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes resulting in total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis is rated at 100% from March 4, 2021. His right knee degenerative arthritis is rated at 30% effective April 9, 2021.