Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, which was initially granted in August 2020.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the development of a supplemental VA medical opinion to address both direct service connection and secondary service connection by aggravation.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address his assertion regarding the adequacy of the 2019 VA examination, secure outstanding records from his knee treatment visits, and consider all pertinent evidence in the record.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated at a 10 percent rating for limitation of adduction, and the Board has granted this. However, ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for limitations of flexion and extension.

The Board has denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's left foot disability, finding that it does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned under DC 5284.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The left hip degenerative arthritis is not compensable, as the evidence does not show any functional loss due to pain or other symptoms. Ratings for right hip disability are also denied, with no limitation of extension found and flexion limited at 90 degrees. A chest scar has no associated underlying soft tissue damage or disabling effects. Bilateral hearing loss is also not compensable.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected conditions, but rather to non-service connected disabilities like Parkinson's disease. As a result, the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connected. The ratings for her knee and ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis due to new and material evidence. However, further clarification is needed regarding which joints are affected by osteoarthritis and whether these conditions may be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to the need for updated VA examinations of the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities, effective June 1, 2011.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left arm radiculopathy, right arm radiculopathy, and neurogenic bladder disability are all granted with specific ratings. The effective date for service connection of the left arm radiculopathy is set at August 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to a need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, right ankle disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence from a previous VA examination, and the Veteran needs to be provided with a new one.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left hip, as there was no issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing whether he is entitled to noncompensable ratings for limited flexion and adduction/abduction.

The Board has remanded the claims for left elbow, right wrist, and left wrist conditions due to inadequate information provided by the VA examiner in previous opinions. The Veteran's statements of continuity of symptoms since service are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA ankle examination to determine appropriate ratings for her foot conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.