Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of the propriety of the reduction in evaluation of the left knee, a rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee, and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion and an initial compensable evaluation for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability and an extraschedular referral for TDIU based on his service-connected left knee alone.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to properly assess the Veteran's right knee disabilities, including during flare-ups.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a recurrent right hand disability and a recurrent left foot disability to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction for further development, as the current record is inadequate to determine whether the Veteran has these disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability but denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and a right eye disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, except for a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), which was granted from January 21, 2020, to October 11, 2020. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion, as there is a duty to assist error in failing to get an appropriate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, prostate cancer, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine due to pre-decisional failures in the duty to assist.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left hip osteoarthritis to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and right ankle postural calcaneal enthesophyte with degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a peripheral nerve examination and the curriculum vitae of the examiners involved.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for amputation of multiple fingers on the left hand and hypertension, while remanding claims for degenerative arthritis of the lower back and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a bilateral knee condition during active service as well as after discharge until 2019.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hallux rigidus and assigned a 60 percent rating from September 9, 2019, for residuals of prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction. It also granted ratings in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the anterior crural nerve.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for recurrent instability of the left knee from April 3, 2022, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia with osteoarthritis.

The appeal for service connection for chronic sinusitis, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and rhinitis has been dismissed by the Veteran.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with spinal fusion and IVDS from September 14, 2021 to April 7, 2022; granted a 60 percent evaluation for right total knee joint replacement effective December 1, 2021.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for left (dominant) shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance to show limitation of motion midway between side and shoulder level during flare-ups.