Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis and denied it for Meniere's syndrome.

The Board granted an effective date of August 5, 2021 for the award of service connection for rhinitis and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability. The issue regarding a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment, thus granting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board remands the case for additional development, specifically to obtain a retrospective opinion addressing the nature and severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating greater than 20 percent or 40 percent, as appropriate, for service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, right and left lower extremity femoral and sciatic radiculopathy, and right and left upper extremity neuropathy/radiculopathy prior to specified dates. The claims are remanded so that retrospective medical opinions can be provided addressing the severity of each disability over the entire course of the period on appeal.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, secondary to her low back condition.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 19, 2024 for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for dental disability, to include jaw pain and periodontal disease, as well as higher initial ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes. The Board also remanded several other issues including entitlement to TDIU, lumbar spine, left shoulder, and arthritis service connection.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for his lumbosacral strain effective July 8, 2015, and the claim for an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability was denied.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee instability before June 12, 2023, and an evaluation of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and right total hip arthroplasty to correct a duty to assist error, as the previous VA medical opinions were found inadequate.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings for various conditions, including right knee scars, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee pain, limited flexion, back disorder, and right knee meniscal tear with knee meniscus repair and joint osteoarthritis.

The appeal was dismissed for proposed reductions in ratings for degenerative arthritis, left ankle, and left knee osteoarthritis, limitation of flexion. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypercholesterolemia were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his malignant melanoma, sinusitis, cluster headaches, and cervical degenerative arthritis with radiculopathy do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for right hip osteoarthritis was dismissed due to the Veteran's untimely filing of a Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied entitlement to a higher disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded several other claims related to the veteran's knees, ankles, hips, and spine.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for multiple back and joint disabilities, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and earlier effective dates, as well as remanded certain issues.