Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the matter for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date as it failed to consider new and material evidence submitted within one year of a July 2011 rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and denied the claims for service connection for chronic epididymo-orchitis, an increased rating for bilateral pes planus, an initial increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, and an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral keratoconus and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a mid-back disability due to an impermissible concurrent election.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, anxiety and depression, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain degenerative arthritis of C4/5.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right hand degenerative arthritis disabilities due to pre-decisional failures in VA's duty to assist.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain with spondylosis and neuroforaminal encroachment, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The Board also granted initial ratings of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and 20 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and non-compensable ratings for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for a left knee disability, tubular adenoma of the colon, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted an effective date of November 5, 2014, for the award of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the back and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus and a left knee disability because the claims were granted with the earliest effective date possible, rendering them moot.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board granted a September 1, 2020, effective date for the award of service connection for left knee strain with osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee osteoarthritis, but remanded claims for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, to include acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, labral tear, including SLAP, and synovitis and tenosynovitis.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, cervical degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar condition, but denied a left leg disability other than neuropathy. Parkinson's disease was remanded.