Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) — all decisions

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot Morton's neuroma were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left hand chondrocalcinosis with degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and a 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints, while denying increased ratings for other disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, a cervical condition as secondary to the claimed lumbar degenerative changes, and bilateral upper extremity nerve conditions as secondary to a cervical disability.

The Board granted service connection for an intestinal disability, manifesting as irregular bowel movements causing impairment in earning capacity. The Veteran was also denied a higher initial rating for low back pain with degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and strain, but granted a 10 percent rating from March 30, 2024, for tension headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for cervical strain and a separate 10 percent rating for limited lateral excursion range of motion due to TMJD, while denying an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and dismissing the claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis as moot.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis, finding the evidence to be in equipoise.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including APD, respiratory insufficiency, RHL, and cervical and upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as a compensable rating for LHL. The claims were not granted.

The Board denied service connection for a left hand, right hand, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, and migraine headache disorders as there was no evidence of current disabilities or symptoms during the period on appeal.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 23, 2011 to May 10, 2022, excluding the period of full-time employment from August 5, 2021 to December 4, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral flat foot (pes planus) to include plantar fasciitis, intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and right knee tendonitis. Bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease (CAD), and right and left foot disabilities, including osteoarthritis, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is directly related to his active military service.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee osteoarthritis prior to September 15, 2014, for an addendum retrospective opinion that complies with Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).