Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right shoulder, degenerative arthritis to schedule a VA examination and obtain an opinion on its etiology.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board remands the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring a new examination of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and enlarge ascending aortic condition as further medical evidence is needed to address whether these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a back disability, finding that August 2, 2023, is the earliest date assignable by law.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for recurrent lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a pre-decisional error in verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty.

The Board granted service connection for multiple osteoarthritis conditions, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and gout based on the evidence showing a relationship to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board remands the claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with thoracic and lumbar strain to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the Veteran's range of motion during flare-ups or following repeated use over time.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for headaches and denied an increased initial disability rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis, while remanding the claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability.

The appeal for initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and increased rating for right knee condition was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and remanded claims for further development of evidence related to other conditions including GERD and low back disability.

The Board granted service connection for a stomach disorder (claimed as reoccurring vomiting) and right ankle disability, but denied service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, hemorrhoids, PTSD, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an initial 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, while denying service connection for a left shoulder disability and other conditions.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and a lower back disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bipolar II disorder, migraines, and respiratory issues, preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the evaluations of chronic lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for a left knee meniscal and ACL instability with recurrent gastrocnemius muscle rupture and degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain as the VA examination reports are inadequate for rating purposes.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for left and right knee instability, but denied increased ratings for the meniscal tears.