Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection of the cause of the Veteran's death to obtain a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lower back disability and his multiple heart disabilities, including obesity.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 20% rating for the Veteran's low back condition, while denying increased ratings for her psychiatric and neurological conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and denied claims for compensable ratings for right ear hearing loss, service connection for left ear hearing loss, and service connection for scars on the right elbow and eyebrow.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back disability and remanded issues related to right lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection.

The Board remands the matter for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and service records.

The case is remanded for further development to clarify the current evaluation assigned and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee pain diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the condition and the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, and cervical strain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and shoulder joint replacement was dismissed as the Veteran's claim had already been granted in a February 2025 rating decision.

The Board granted restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability and restored 20 percent ratings for sciatic nerve radiculopathies in both lower extremities, effective September 28, 2023. The decision also denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and erectile dysfunction, as well as the appeals for entitlement to basic eligibility for VA loan guaranty benefits and an earlier effective date for eligibility to DEA, were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the filing of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to untimely filings of a Notice of Disagreement, except for remanding certain claims for further development.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing but denied eligibility for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings as a matter of law, having already adjudicated these issues in a previous decision.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's tension/migraine headaches due to their severity and impact on daily life, while remanding claims for back disability and sinusitis for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with cervical strain due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right and left hip osteoarthritis, chronic diarrhea with GERD, and service connection for fibromyalgia. However, a 20 percent rating was granted for the right ankle deltoid ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis.