Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability from October 1, 2019.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with joint osteoarthritis due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for symphysis pubis arthrosis with arthritis of the right hip and degenerative arthritis of thoracic or lumbar intervertebral disc to obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 29, 2020, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to address the Veteran's sacroiliac joint degenerative arthritis, lumbar disc herniation L5-S1, and degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine disability due to an inadequate pre-decisional examination.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for back degenerative arthritis, neck degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for right knee patellar chondromalacia with osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims due to a lack of evidence regarding the etiology of certain conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hip condition, and left hip condition as additional development is needed to address whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis aggravated his left knee and both hip conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis due to missing records, including a separation examination and military personnel records.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active service.

The Board granted the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, left foot pes planus with degenerative arthritis of the mid foot, and supraventricular arrhythmia of atrial fibrillation.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post meniscectomy and total right knee replacement.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, as well as remanded claims for service connection for a right foot condition, COPD, and skin cancer.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied increased ratings for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and allergic rhinitis.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to ensure VA has met its duty to assist, as the previous examinations did not use a goniometer and were inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's back pain had its onset in service and continued after his separation from service.

The Board remands the matters for further development, specifically to obtain addendum opinions that more adequately address the requirements laid out in Sharp v. Shulkin.

The appeal for an effective date prior to October 23, 2017, for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and TBI residuals; tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.