Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and right knee disabilities other than degenerative arthritis, as well as an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The initial compensable rating for bronchitis prior to May 2, 2023 was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, stenosis, and IVDS based on a favorable finding by the RO that new and relevant evidence had been received to readjudicate the claim.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder impingement syndrome, left foot sprain, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims, including those for higher ratings and service connection.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to an incomplete record regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) from November 5, 2008, to October 18, 2011, from January 1, 2012, to October 23, 2012, from February 1, 2013, to February 23, 2014, and from April 1, 2015, to March 10, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and left lower extremity condition manifested by numbness for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle degenerative arthritis to obtain further medical opinions regarding whether these conditions pre-existed service and, if not, whether they are related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as an initial 40 percent rating for recurrent lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine from July 9, 2004. The claim for service connection for sexual dysfunction was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a TDIU due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to October 7, 2020, and 30 percent from that date for left foot cold injury residuals with osteoarthritis, plantar heel spur, and calcaneal spurs due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's February 2020 surgery was related to his service-connected condition.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and therefore, it is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability diagnosed as cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for a right leg disorder, diagnosed as right knee medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis, and chronic right ankle pain and stiffness.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot degenerative arthritis with navicular bone strain was dismissed due to a lack of legal basis.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected severe osteoarthritis of the right foot, as the symptomatology most closely approximated a severity level of a severe injury.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to an incomplete record, specifically missing treatment records from the Veteran's primary care physician.

The Board denied service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, as well as remanded the claim for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient evidence.