Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of degenerative arthritis of the spine with scoliosis, right and left lower extremity sciatica, as well as service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral pes planus, and hallux valgus left foot.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an injury or disease incurred during his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, granted it for unspecified anxiety disorder, and denied it for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and a skin disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, except for tinnitus which was granted.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 20, 2001, for the award of service connection for left foot bunion, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a right knee condition due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for readjudication of the claim of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the appeal for another VA examination to properly evaluate the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board granted an effective date of February 19, 2010 for the grant of service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased disability evaluations, except for left knee scar and patellofemoral complex with recurrent instability, which were granted an effective date of December 1, 2004.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been adequately related to an injury during active duty for training.

The Board denied increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis but granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful extension in both knees.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a left hand disability, residuals status post right boxer fracture of the fifth finger, and a bilateral hip disability. The effective date for the grants of service connection for certain conditions was set to October 28, 2020.

The Board granted restoration of a 40% rating for T-9 compression fracture, status post lumbar decompression L3 - L5 and lumbar fusion, with IVDS and degenerative arthritis, as well as increased ratings to 40% for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, finding a nexus between the in-service injury and the current disability.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, variously diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis, finding that the Veteran's back disability was aggravated by his active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, left ankle osteoarthritis, and tension headaches. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypothyroidism were remanded.

The appeal for service connection for a right hip disability was dismissed as the issue has been fully resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the matter for further development, including to obtain a new VA examination and determine the severity of the Veteran's left knee condition while discounting the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.