Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The appeal for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis was dismissed due to an improper opt-in to the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to assess the orthopedic manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected right hip disabilities, including consideration of the ameliorative effects of medication taken for pain relief.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition diagnosed as bicipital tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and an initial rating of 30 percent for sinusitis. The claims for acid reflux, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis were remanded.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for right and left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion, a 20 percent rating for right knee dislocation of semilunar cartilage, and 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability, effective from March 16, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder and a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive features, while denying earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right ankle strain on a direct basis. The Board also granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, while remanding the claims for service connection for other disabilities and an initial rating for left foot pes planus.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with IVDS, 40 percent for radicopathy, right lower extremity, and 10 percent for hypertension. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for the veteran's low back disability, left wrist disorder, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, right hand disability, and right wrist disability on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for narcolepsy and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left hips, as well as migraine headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar laminectomy procedures scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and remanded claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of medication on the severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board granted a reinstatement of the 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, effective November 1, 2022. The Board also granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for left hand radial digital nerve impairment based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis as additional evidence needs to be obtained.