Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings for shoulder and foot conditions due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right fifth metatarsal fracture and denied service connection for left and right knee disorders.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and remanded service connection claims for diarrhea and left hip strain.

The Board granted service connection for a left hip condition, to include left hip replacement, degenerative arthritis, and avascular necrosis. The bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis issue was remanded.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability effective September 14, 2020, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as remanded several other issues.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism, both due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act. Other claims were either dismissed or remanded for further evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of both knees, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shin splints, denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic rhinitis, granted entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 6, 2018, and remanded several issues including service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, increased ratings for PTSD with TBI, back disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board granted initial 50 percent ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis prior to August 29, 2019, but denied earlier effective dates than November 26, 2008.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spine strain, and remanded several other issues related to hip trochanteric pain syndrome, cervical strain, and upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran was granted increased ratings for his right knee conditions, including a 30 percent rating for instability and separate 20 percent and 10 percent ratings for limited extension and flexion respectively.

The Board denied service connection for patellar instability and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions and her period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, except for a separate rating of 20 percent for left knee instability beginning on December 19, 2021.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, except for a separate rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to October 20, 2009, for the award of service connection for various degenerative arthritis conditions and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent, but not higher, for a back disability; 30 percent, but not higher, for cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), left hip disability, migraine headaches, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for anemia and back disability to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the September 2024 rating decision on appeal.