Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, with degenerative disc disease L4-L5 and L5-S1.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to provide adequate range of motion measurements, including during flare-ups.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a TBI, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, and right wrist arthritis/wrist sprain, chronic as secondary to instability, left knee due to concurrent elections under the modernized review system.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (neck). The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of a 70 percent disability rating for depression, as well as increased ratings for left hip degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claim for a retrospective medical opinion to address the Veteran's right shoulder disability without the ameliorative effects of his use of pain medication.

The appeals for proposed reductions in the evaluations of sinusitis, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as there was no question of law or fact on appeal.

The Board granted initial ratings of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, 60 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, status post spinal fusion, and 40 percent for radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The claim for a compensable rating for scar on back was denied, and TDIU was granted.

The Veteran was granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with acute sinusitis and an initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, while the claims for arthritis and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings, granted readjudication on new evidence, and remanded several claims.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD), based on evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis to obtain additional evidence.

The Board grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine based on continuity and chronicity.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, severe alcohol use disorder and moderate cocaine use disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST), and granted increased ratings for certain service-connected disabilities. The claim for dizziness was dismissed, as was the entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board granted an effective date of January 14, 2021 for the right hip disability and denied earlier effective dates for left hip osteoarthritis and low back ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative arthritis. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher initial disability ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as a higher rating for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to May 9, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury and remanded the claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating greater than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the spine, as well as entitlement to TDIU.

The appeal seeking revision or reversal of the July 2019 rating decision that denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of left shoulder with rotator cuff tendonitis based on a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is denied.