Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, as no one was seeking substitution as an accrued-benefits recipient.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 30, 2018.

The Board has vacated the November 2021 decision denying service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to failure to comply with prior remand directives. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, higher ratings for GERD and left knee disability. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine arthritis and left knee osteoarthritis based on the presumption of chronicity due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and bilateral wrist disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional clarifying addenda/opinions.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded both issues due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder and nerve disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple physical conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 20, 2021.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied, but he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. The left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from June 10, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 27, 2022 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right-knee osteoarthritis was denied. The VA assigned a 20% rating effective from April 27, 2022.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to comply with previous directives from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). Specifically, the Veteran's employment records need to be obtained and provided by OPM.

The Board has granted a TDIU from April 16, 2012. However, the case is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU was warranted prior to that date on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's current diagnosis of chondromalacia patella and its relation to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his left knee degenerative arthritis, which he claims is related to in-service chondromalacia patella.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.