Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The appeal seeking increased ratings for the service-connected right and left knee disabilities is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lower back based on evidence that the condition was incurred in service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis prior to January 14, 2025, and denied higher ratings for the other conditions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his back and left knee disabilities to ensure compliance with its previous remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for various conditions, as no evidence was found to support a claim prior to September 28, 2023.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, but other claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right foot and ankle disabilities, as they are already rated at the maximum schedular evaluation available under the amputation rule.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain and lumbar radiculopathy, but the increased ratings were denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, residuals of stroke, and osteoarthritis right hip including right thigh injury. The Veteran's disability rating in excess of 40 percent for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine was denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for a compensable rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction and increased special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, as there remains no case or controversy with respect to these issues over which the Board may exercise jurisdiction. The claims for an increased disability rating for major depressive disorder, left knee disability, and service connection for right knee disability are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, including posttraumatic osteoarthritis, as the evidence did not show that the current condition was related to in-service events or incurred during active duty.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic radiculopathy and 30 percent for the left knee disability from August 7, 2019 to September 26, 2019.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability, a recurrent left shoulder disability, and a recurrent left knee disability to be further evaluated with additional medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sclerosis and remanded the claims for heart murmur, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis due to a lack of current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service.

The appeal was granted for service connection of renal cell carcinoma, chronic depression or dysthymia, and PTSD. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding no evidence linking the condition to active service or an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, a left knee condition, a lumbosacral spine condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for left knee posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, bilateral shin splints, and lumbar strain. A 20 percent initial rating was assigned for hemorrhoids.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as additional evidence is needed.