Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) — all decisions

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings on all claims due to untimely Notices of Disagreement.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, with the exception of granting a 10 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and menopause, granted an increased disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from April 29, 2023, and remanded claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left wrist carpal tunnel, and bilateral flat feet.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 16, 2014, as the evidence did not show that he was precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for right hip strain with bursitis and osteoarthritis (limited flexion) to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the effects of medication on the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle strain, right plantar spur, and bilateral hallux valgus.

The Board remands the claim for a lower back condition secondary to a service-connected left knee condition due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including a back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraine headaches, among others. It also granted increased ratings for PTSD and moderate, recurrent, major depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent, but no higher, prior to March 17, 2017 for status post right thumb reconstructive surgery.

The Board granted an effective date of June 29, 2023 for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and back disability, preclude his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from March 19, 2025.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for bilateral shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis with chronic pain were partially granted, allowing an effective date of November 4, 2018, but no earlier.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than May 26, 2016, for a separate rating for right knee instability and left knee instability. The claims for higher ratings based on limitation of motion and instability of the knees, separate ratings for meniscus conditions of the knees, and secondary service connection claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is due to in-service noise exposure. The low back disability claim was remanded for further development.