Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The appeal seeking service connection for right knee osteoarthritis was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald to determine the current degree of severity of the service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, TDIU, and special monthly compensation.

The Board granted service connection for left hip iliopsoas tendinopathy and meralgia paresthetica due to lateral femoral cutaneous nerve impingement, but remanded the claims for a left wrist condition with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right-hand condition with painful joints.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for migraines and lumbosacral strain due to untimely appeals. The claims for knee degenerative arthritis, lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic pain syndrome were denied as there was insufficient evidence linking them to active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability was remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy (chronic kidney disease), peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper and lower extremities, varicose veins (PVD) of the right and left leg, and degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for dry mouth, allergies, and increased ratings for BPPV, chronic constipation, right hip degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims for erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches, and tailbone pain were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence was in relative equipoise regarding whether the symptoms and manifestations of the Veteran's knees originated during service and eventually manifested as her current knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, granted a 20 percent rating for left knee instability prior to February 7, 2021, and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from September 1, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her lumbar spine and lower extremity disabilities to obtain private chiropractic treatment records.

The Board denied readjudication of the claims for service connection for left knee and right knee osteoarthritis as new and relevant evidence was not submitted.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent), but remanded the issue of basal cell carcinoma and residuals.

The veteran withdrew all appeals for service connection related to various conditions, including knees, feet, eyes, and back.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis was granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, effective from November 25, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and their respective in-service injuries.

The Board denied the claims for service connection and an initial compensable evaluation, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability or sleep apnea related to service. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were found to be noncompensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, including a nerve disability, duodenal ulcer, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, residual right ankle and right knee scars, left ear hearing loss, post traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, right knee strain, and tinnitus.