Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected right shoulder disability, as there was no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for the service-connected left knee, left knee scar, and right knee disabilities. However, it granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected left knee strain with degenerative arthritis status post total knee replacement.

The Board restored the 50 percent disability rating for bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis, plantar keratosis, and degenerative arthritis as the reduction was improper.

The Board granted service connection for right and left thumb degenerative arthritis, finding an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding in-service incurrence and a causal relationship to current disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability and denied higher ratings for the other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and remanded the issue of service connection for neck condition due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal in January 2025, stating that his feet are much better since he had surgeries and do not want to continue the claim.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding it to be directly related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder based on a complete and accurate medical history.

The Board remanded entitlement to service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral upper extremity conditions for further development. The Board found new and relevant evidence warranted readjudication of the cervical spine claim and identified duty to assist errors in obtaining SSA records and obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding a relationship to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, finding that improvement was not shown under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for left and right hand disorders, including osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical strain, back disability, right hip osteoarthritis, and right shoulder tear due to a need for new VA medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee joint osteoarthritis, status post meniscal tear with partial meniscectomy and remanded the claim for entitlement to TDIU, to include on an extraschedular basis, prior to February 17, 2022.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and granted a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy, which was found to be secondary to his service-connected back condition.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder strain and degenerative arthritis as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.