Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) — all decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of June 7, 2023, for entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and right ankle arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shin splints and left knee osteoarthritis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as their corresponding foot conditions, but granted earlier effective dates for the 20 percent disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis status-post total left knee replacement, and residual scar of the left knee as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim submitted in February 2023.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, secondary to tinnitus and a compensable rating for the cesarean section scar. The claims for service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle status post achilles tendon repair, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, osteoarthritis of both hips, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a neck injury, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and history of spinal fusion, based on the evidence showing chronicity since service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with total knee replacement due to a lack of adequate medical evidence and procedural deficiencies.

The Board denied service connection for both the left and right hip disabilities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, finding no evidence linking them to any incident of service.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical spine disability was dismissed, and claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 1, 1997, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, lumbar spine herniated disc, and bilateral flat feet (pes planus) as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent, and she was also granted TDIU, DEA, and SMC for the period from March 27, 2017, to August 20, 2017.