Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the case for further development to ensure compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and lumbar radiculopathy, but remanded the claims for right foot condition and left foot condition.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable prior to August 4, 2020, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the increased disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine, posttraumatic degenerative changes, traumatic brain injury with insomnia and dizziness, and post traumatic residuals of left ankle and fracture of the left tibia/fibula with internal fixator, all from December 16, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for increased initial disability ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and a right ankle strain to ensure that VA examinations are adequate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, right hip, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis based on new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist, and left forearm were remanded for further consideration.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's shoulder and left elbow disorders, including what ameliorative effects medication has on these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the back to correct an error in failing to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus and right ankle strain with residual osteoarthritis, but remanded claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, lumbosacral strain, and associated radiculopathies due to missing private treatment records.

The Board granted the appeal and restored the 40% evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as the 20% evaluations for left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected surgical scar, left knee status post arthroplasty and remanded the claim for service connection for cervical spine status post spinal fusion to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for spondylosis of the lumbar spine and migraine headaches, granted a 50% rating for PTSD from March 3, 2019, and granted TDIU and DEA benefits from that date. Sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and tension headaches (including migraine headaches).

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis due to evidence showing worsening conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left leg shin splint, right leg shin splint, and a right shoulder disability, including degenerative arthritis, to ensure compliance with the duty to assist.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to service, including an injury during basic training.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder from November 8, 2021.