Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left ankle instability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and hypertension, but denied increased ratings for the left ankle disability and other forms of arthritis.

The Board granted an increased 30 percent rating for both the RIGHT and LEFT knee conditions based on limitation of FLEXION, but denied any increase in rating or earlier effective date for limitation of EXTENSION.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee limitation of motion but granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, and remanded service connection for bilateral lower extremity lymphedema.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for limitation of flexion and in excess of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the right knee due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's condition.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and IVDS, left hip osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for rotator cuff tendonitis of the left shoulder, right knee strain, right ankle strain, and sinusitis. The appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbar spine sprain associated with degenerative arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded service connection claims.

The Board remands the matter for further development and readjudication due to an incomplete medical nexus opinion.

The Board granted an effective date of November 20, 2012 for service connection for bilateral ankle degenerative arthritis but denied any earlier effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right knee osteoarthritis, and a TDIU prior to January 7, 2019.

The appeal was denied for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, while other issues were remanded for further evidence and examination.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee as a secondary condition to the Veteran's already service-connected left knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, and bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathies due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with disc bulge to include Degenerative Arthritis (DA), Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) disabilities have rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and denied ratings in excess of the current evaluations for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and right knee strain with limitation of flexion and extension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a few granted evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his ability to independently ambulate with the use of braces.

The Board granted service connection for right midfoot primary osteoarthritis with metatarsalgia but denied service connection for right foot pain.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, a 10 percent rating for right knee arthritis with limitation of flexion prior to June 28, 2021, and a separate 30 percent rating for instability of the right knee. The claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and PTSD were denied.