Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent since December 29, 2020. The initial rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis prior to August 8, 2022 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and to consider all applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's left and right knee conditions, as well as his right middle finger condition, are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip disabilities are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a prior VA examination and the need for a retrospective medical evaluation.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis prior to March 24, 2021 has not shown marked limited motion of the ankle (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion), thus a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and unverified contact information. The issues include an increased rating for right wrist disability, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and service connection for low libido/low testosterone and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to outstanding treatment records not being obtained.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error identified during higher-level review, specifically regarding post-service treatment records from Camp Pendleton.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran needs additional addendum medical opinions regarding her range of motion and functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's back brace and bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear to his clothing, specifically causing damage to shirts from the back brace and pants from the knee braces. The Board granted three annual clothing allowances for the 2021 calendar year based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms or a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as service connected, as it manifested within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back strain. The matter is now being reviewed with an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service parachute jumping duties. Service connection for a left leg disability was denied as there was no evidence of such a disability.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis in both knees, finding that the Veteran's knee disabilities were caused by his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to October 26, 2012, for the grants of service connection for TBI and migraine headaches were denied in a February 2020 Board decision. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions or file a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's December 2022 VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) does not set forth contended errors of fact or law in the February 2020 Board decision nor does it plead with particularity any such errors such that the NOD can be construed as either a motion for reconsideration or a motion to revise the Board's February 2020 decision.