Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's back disability and an earlier effective date for service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for gout and increased ratings for the Veteran's lower back, left sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left femoral nerve radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and left hip condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis with glenohumeral joint dislocation, right shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder joint replacement, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, headaches/migraines, and left shoulder condition.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the evidence demonstrated functional ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The issues related to additional service connection were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and TDIU is granted.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, including left knee osteoarthritis with strain, but denied service connection for a left ankle disorder including strain.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for multiple disabilities, including knee and back conditions, to obtain additional evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to a failure to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the service connection claims for right hip condition and right knee condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal was withdrawn by the appellant, and all issues were dismissed.

The request to appeal the proposal to sever service connection for PTSD was dismissed as moot.

The Board remands the claims for higher disability ratings for left elbow fracture with osteoarthritis due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded for increased evaluations of the Veteran's left knee and right hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis of the right knee due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and no in-service event or injury.

The Board granted an effective date of January 24, 2022, for the award of service connection for nightmare disorder but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and a 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine disorder.

The Board remands the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis to ensure a proper VA examination is conducted.