Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted an increase in rating for the sciatic nerve condition.

The Board granted service connection for knee osteoarthritis, left, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether it was a result of active-duty service.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle collateral lateral ligament sprain and right knee degenerative arthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, but denied service connection for sleep disturbances.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and assigned a 50 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with sacroiliac weakness and degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and bilateral hip disabilities to ensure adequate medical examinations are conducted.

The decision granted earlier effective dates for DEA benefits, TDIU, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ from August 1, 2018, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, ED, left knee degenerative arthritis with synovitis and chondromalacia, and other conditions.

The appeal for service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine disorder is related to service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of the Veteran's right knee disabilities due to the need for an additional VA examination.

The appeal was dismissed due to a concurrent election of review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent temporary evaluation for left and right knee conditions, as the evidence did not support an earlier entitlement to such ratings.

The appeal for service connection for right knee strain iliotibial band friction syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed as moot due to a full grant of benefits.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, effective February 14, 2020. The decision also granted service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, as well as TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left upper extremity nerve condition (secondary to degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, neck condition), headaches, left knee strain, and tinnitus. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, urinary frequency, and voiding dysfunction were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected back and IVDS disability, as well as GAD, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 8, 2020, for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia and granted service connection for degenerative arthritis in various joints.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient information regarding the baseline severity of his conditions when discounting the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left Achilles tendon rupture with tendonitis and osteoarthritis, as the Veteran's condition was not shown to have additional significant loss of motion due to factors such as pain, weakness, lack of endurance, fatigability, and incoordination during flare-ups and with repeated use over time.

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left hip disability.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 30 percent for a cervical spine disability due to the need for additional development.