Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The claims for higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left foot degenerative arthritis, and right foot degenerative arthritis are remanded due to an insufficient examination.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the spinal stenosis surgery scar and denied a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis. The claim for right ear hearing loss was readjudicated based on new evidence but ultimately denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions due to a lack of evidence supporting an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left wrist degenerative arthritis, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, eye disability, and sciatica of the right lower extremity. However, it granted a 40 percent rating for back disability, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to the back disability, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and scar on neck as secondary to a lumbar spine disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, chronic left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service injuries and continuity of symptoms.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 11, 2010, for the service connection for impairment of the thigh due to right hip degenerative arthritis with strain and trochanteric pain syndrome and left hip degenerative arthritis limitation of extension with strain and trochanteric pain syndrome and tendinopathy.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to address inconsistencies in the October 2023 VA examination report.

The appeal for a rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied, while the claims for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right hip, and right renal atrophy with renal insufficiency as secondary to the Veteran's left knee disability. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability, but remanded claims for mental health disability, substance abuse, type two diabetes mellitus (DMII), hormonal imbalance, bilateral glaucoma, and left knee disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee, lumbar spine, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities but granted TDIU from September 14, 2020, to November 20, 2022, and from June 21, 2023, to July 30, 2024.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD but granted individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remanded several claims for service connection and initial ratings, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy middle radicular group as secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis with strain, peripheral neuropathy of the left hand, peripheral neuropathy of the right hand, lumbosacral strain, a left knee scar, and a right knee scar. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed as moot.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee disability from September 1, 2021, as it was factually ascertainable that his symptoms more nearly approximated chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion in the right lower extremity during this period.

The Board denied service connection for left leg arthritis, back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities but granted a 70 percent rating for the psychiatric disability from January 4, 2019.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his left shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tear repair and hemiarthroplasty, denied an initial compensable rating for his left shoulder surgical scars, and granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The appeal was denied for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, with some issues remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for low back disability and right hip disability to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decisions on appeal.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis to cure a pre-decisional duty to assist error and address additional evidence.