Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis was granted a 100% disability rating from March 4, 2021.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis was granted a 30% disability rating from April 9, 2021.

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.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider functional loss caused by pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is as likely as not related to his in-service service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C due to new evidence presented in his September 2022 Appellate brief.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The rating for the lumbar spine condition prior to August 1, 2022 is still denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis left elbow conditions due to outstanding VA treatment records and an updated examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, left knee meniscus tear and Baker's cyst with degenerative changes, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left and right lower extremity sciatic and femoral nerve paralysis disabilities. Obesity was considered an intermediate step in this progression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The left knee disability rating is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional VA examinations to assess his service-connected neck and headache disabilities, as previous evaluations did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding functional impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there was no credible evidence to support his contention that he injured his back during active duty. The Board also noted that the Veteran served less than 90 days on active duty and thus is not entitled to the presumption of service connection for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records from Brooke Army Medical Center and Shavano Park Outpatient Clinic. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is pending.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for ratings of his right knee, left knee, and left knee scars have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed. Effective May 24, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and low back disability, finding that these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis respectively.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy were found to not meet the criteria for higher evaluations, with the highest rating of 20 percent being granted for his thoracolumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome were rated at 40 percent from October 5, 2016 to December 17, 2019.,Since December 18, 2019, a rating in excess of 40 percent for these conditions has not been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in evaluating the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain. A new VA opinion is needed to consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, as secondary to his service-connected anterior thigh status post gunshot wound left thigh.