Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, effective July 23, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder injury, but remanded the claims for a right wrist condition and right hand degenerative arthritis of 1st MCP, MCC joint (thumb) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's mental health disorder, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left patellar tendon rupture with degenerative arthritis, and hypertension. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for instability of the left knee.

The appeal regarding the reduction of the Veteran's VA rating for degenerative arthritis was withdrawn, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review it.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back strain and thoracolumbar spine multilevel osteoarthritis, as well as for service connection for lung pathology.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development, specifically to obtain outstanding VA medical treatment records since July 2022.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for left wrist synovitis with osteoarthritis and service connection for neck, left knee, and left hip disabilities to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date of July 27, 2016, for the award of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left thumbs are granted.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis, right foot, due to severe symptoms during flare-ups.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than IVDS and spinal stenosis due to inadequate medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, headaches disability, and a left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, status post discectomy. The claims for coughing disability, GERD, and cervical spine disability were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, limitation of extension.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain disability, and left knee osteoarthritis disability based on new and relevant evidence received since previous denials.

The appeal for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, a left shoulder disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, and left trigeminal neuralgia was dismissed due to concurrent review mechanisms being prohibited by applicable regulations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, scar s/p right knee surgery, and right leg neuropathy to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to missing treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee meniscus tear but denied an increased rating for left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion).

The Board granted service connection for knee osteoarthritis under the combat presumption of 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for the dismissal of previously granted conditions.