Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there was no reasonable possibility that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings and service connection of various conditions, including other reactions to severe stress with persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and panic disorder, migraines, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative arthritis, as well as sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for an increased initial rating for degenerative arthritis, right knee, as the previous VA examination did not adequately address the Veteran's reported pain, flare-ups, and functional impairments.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck condition, left arm condition, and left hand condition as there is a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection for tibial stress fractures with shin splints and degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for total right knee replacement due to a duty to assist error regarding an inadequate examination report.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of both knees, bronchitis, plantar fasciitis of both feet, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. The low back condition was remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for revision of rating decisions on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, finding no undebatable errors that manifestly changed the outcomes.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of lumbosacral strain, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, left knee limitation of flexion, left knee limitation of extension, and right shoulder bursitis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tendonitis, and repair as the VA examinations are found to be inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, namely lumbar spondylosis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected retropatellar syndrome, arthritis and meniscal strain, right knee.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee joint osteoarthritis, right big toe osteoarthritis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical stenosis, and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral spine spondylosis, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claim for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, lumbosacral strain, and IVDS, secondary to service-connected right ankle disability, due to an inadequate VA medical nexus opinion.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, and service connection for right hip arthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica as secondary to the lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or a TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and higher compensation for DEA benefits, as well as remanded several hand and knee conditions for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased initial ratings for various conditions, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and chondromalacia based on the continuity of symptomatology since service.

The veteran was granted an effective date of September 11, 2019 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.