Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral strain, and right knee osteoarthritis, so the Board has no jurisdiction to review this claim.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to allow the AOJ to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing and determine if additional evidentiary development is required.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings for kidney disease, hypertension, headaches, PTSD, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed due to a withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board remands the service connection claims for acne and acne scarring, lower back degenerative arthritis, temporomandibular disorder, feet conditions including plantar fasciitis, Morton's neuroma, and left side sciatica due to missing active-duty service treatment records.

The Board denied increased ratings for post-traumatic osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease of the knees, denied a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in sustained remission, denied initial compensable evaluations for knee surgical scars, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board granted separate 10 percent ratings for meniscectomy of both knees.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, finding that the Veteran's condition started during his active duty and continued since then.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist osteoarthritis was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right shoulder, left and right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but no more.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis. OSA was denied, and the PTSD rating was also denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD)/intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) prior to July 2, 2019, but denied a higher rating for the entire period. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee joint osteoarthritis status-post ACL tear and medial meniscus tear surgical repair, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for right knee instability and symptomatic cartilage removal.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but granted an effective date of June 8, 2021, for special monthly compensation (SMC) based upon housebound status and an increased 50 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, and 20 percent each for left and right lower extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy. The lumbar spine disability was denied a higher rating, and the effective dates for service connection were adjusted.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include osteoarthritis of the right foot, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral calcaneal spurs, but not including the already service-connected left foot osteoarthritis.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, effective from January 1, 2012.

The Veteran was granted separate 20 percent ratings for a right knee meniscal tear and right knee instability, but the rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination and to obtain relevant private treatment records.