Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and myofascitis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (claimed as bulging disc C3-C4 and C5-C6), an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and allergic rhinitis. The Board also denied earlier effective dates for these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for lumbar spine surgical scars and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, while remanding the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder strain with AC joint osteoarthritis, ulnar neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of left knee osteoarthritis, right knee strain, and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding instability in both knees.

The Board granted the reinstatement of a 30 percent rating for chronic urticaria, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic urticaria and other conditions, and granted TDIU and SMC.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis prior to March 25, 2022, and the claims for increased ratings for recurrent dislocation and total arthroplasty were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia patella with osteoarthritis, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee strains, as well as a lumbosacral spine disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hip early osteoarthrosis. The initial rating of 40 percent was assigned for the lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, while remanding claims for Crohn's disease, arthritis rheumatoid and psoriatic, and psoriasis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left foot osteoarthritis, a left shoulder condition, and a right shoulder condition to allow for additional development, including new examinations with the Veteran's participation.

The Board granted an effective date of December 31, 2020, for the grant of service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and a TDIU.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities and denied increased ratings for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right sciatic radiculopathy, and multiple right knee and hip conditions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus and granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but remanded a claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis with patellar enthesophy has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right hip condition, left shoulder condition, and cervical spine condition based on the evidence being in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are due to service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the January 19, 2023, supplemental claim rating decision.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis, for further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded claims for right shoulder disability, low back disorder, eczema, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 30, 2022, due to an alleged pre-decisional duty to assist error by failing to obtain private medical records.