Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder bicipital tendon tear, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with facet arthropathy and lumbosacral strain, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (to include iliotibial band syndrome), and chronic right wrist sprain were denied. The Board also granted an effective date of July 7, 2023 for the award of increased ratings.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hand degenerative arthritis, left hand degenerative arthritis, left shoulder subdeltoid bursitis (claimed as degenerative arthritis), right shoulder strain (claimed as degenerative arthritis), major depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbosacral spine conditions but granted service connection for right hip and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right anterior superior iliac spine avulsion fracture.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, left shoulder conditions, and bilateral trigger finger to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors by obtaining adequate VA medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for a left shoulder disability to secure an addendum opinion that adequately considers the Veteran's reported in-service injury and continuous symptoms.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome and knee strain with knee joint osteoarthritis of the right knee, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and lumbosacral strain due to errors in the duty to assist.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, secondary to tinnitus and a compensable rating for the cesarean section scar. The claims for service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle status post achilles tendon repair, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, osteoarthritis of both hips, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were remanded.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right and left hips, but granted a 10 percent rating from April 12, 2011, for both hip conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both knees, hypertension, and a lower back disorder to obtain private medical records from Dr. B. Taylor.

The appeals for increased ratings and service connection were withdrawn by the veteran's authorized representative.

The Board denied an increased rating for major depressive disorder and dismissed the appeal for a higher rating of degenerative arthritis of the spine due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis to obtain an addendum opinion that adequately considers the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries and pain.

The Board granted service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis status post total hip replacement, finding that the disabilities were aggravated by obesity due to the Veteran's service-connected left knee strain.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, a left elbow disability (claimed as osteoarthritis), and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for pelvic floor dysfunction and remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The appeal for an increased rating for a back disability and the request for an earlier effective date for TDIU were dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Board remands the Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, and lumbar radiculopathy of both lower extremities based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during and have continued since service.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition.