Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including service connection for stomach pain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and TIA due to a need for additional medical evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection to left knee joint osteoarthritis as secondary to lumbosacral strain and spinal stenosis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee, and left knee as secondary to the right knee.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period from May 25, 2016 to January 18, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for gallbladder disability, pre-cancer polyps and colon problems, and dental condition, but granted a 40 percent rating for right shoulder injury and a 30 percent rating for right elbow disability.

The Board denied an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and tendinitis, cervical spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar scoliosis and lumbar spine degenerative changes.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the left knee, as the evidence did not show limitation of flexion to less than 30 degrees.

The appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, claimed as broken neck, was dismissed because the claim had already been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction in June 2025.

The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 2, 2023, for the grant of service connection for various conditions and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis of the right hand and service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, including migraine variants and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis on a presumptive basis due to the presence of symptoms in service and continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis was remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a lower back degenerative arthritis was withdrawn by the Veteran and is therefore dismissed.

The Board remands the matter for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right hip disability, as the April 2021 VA examination is deemed inadequate.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and disability ratings, as well as remanded certain claims.

The Veteran's service connection for left shoulder strain, labral tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and tendinitis was granted, while the effective date prior to November 11, 2023, for migraine headaches was denied.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis and granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability.