Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sarcoidosis of the lungs and skin but denied service connection for a low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating in various service-connected conditions due to deficiencies in VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis and denied ratings higher than 30 percent for residuals scarring of the thighs. However, it granted a separate 10 percent rating for patellofemoral complex instability.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis, effective from April 19, 2018 to January 25, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities to correct pre-decisional errors, specifically the failure to provide adequate VA examinations.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that it was manifested by no more than moderate limited motion of the ankle.

The Board granted restoration of the 30 percent rating for right knee degenerative arthritis with limited flexion and the 20 percent rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis, effective October 1, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for ankylosis of the right thumb with degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and surgical scar of the right thumb.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and a psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for Raynaud's disease, muscle pain, degenerative arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves in both upper extremities, squamous cell carcinoma, and migraines.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection for left knee tendinopathy, cervical strain, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board remands the claim for a back disability to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining missing service treatment and personnel records from 1982.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The appeal for service connection for hypothyroidism was dismissed as the Veteran did not withdraw his request for higher-level review, and the benefit sought on appeal had already been granted. The appeal for service connection for bilateral hip pain (osteoarthritis) was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified insomnia disorder and denied increased ratings for the right knee and maxillary sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to active service or meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left hip disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Veteran withdrew the issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee patellar tendinosis, degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine with thoracolumbar spine strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease with eosinophilic esophagitis (GERD), and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's left hip disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and the claims for earlier effective dates and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left fifth finger and right knee scars, as well as remanded claims for increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis status post right knee replacement with residual strain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left little finger ankylosis at the proximal interphalangeal joint status post fusion, and right little finger fracture.