Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied an increased rating for meniscal tear, knee joint osteoarthritis, and chondromalacia patella but granted separate ratings of 20 percent for instability and 10 percent for limitation of extension.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for various conditions, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these withdrawn appeals.

The Veteran's migraines were granted a 30 percent rating from May 4, 2023, but an initial rating in excess of 30 percent was denied. Service connection for various knee and hand disabilities, as well as a back disability, was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran experienced pain related to his back disability since separation from service and establishing continuity of symptomatology.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cervical spine disability, finding credible evidence of in-service events and establishing a nexus to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine degenerative arthritis disability, and left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis disabilities based on credible evidence of in-service onset and post-service continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted some, including a 20% rating for right ankle arthritis from April 2, 2022, and separate 30% ratings for left and right knee ankylosis starting May 23, 2022.

The Board restored the Veteran's 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy effective January 8, 2018. The Veteran was denied a compensable rating prior to August 16, 2024, and an increased rating thereafter.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for right foot tarsal tunnel syndrome with right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 10 percent or left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome with left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and ratings in excess of 30 percent and 20 percent respectively for right rotator cuff tendinitis, AC joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease, and left rotator cuff tendinitis, AC joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right hip degenerative arthritis status post right total hip replacement, but remanded the claims for a left foot disability, right foot disability, and left shoulder rotator cuff tear and tendinitis.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated the current conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and right lower extremity sciatic nerve, as there was no evidence of continuous pursuit of these claims within one year of the initial denials.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, right and left thumb, index, long, ring, and little finger degenerative arthritis, and right knee tendonitis. However, a separate rating of 10 percent was granted for the group of minor joints composed of the right and left ring and little fingers.

The Board remands the claims for service-connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis as further development is needed to address the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and remanded several service connection claims due to missing service treatment records.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address an in-service back pain notation from May 2016 and provide an opinion on the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's current back disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for migraine headaches and granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, while dismissing SMC based on housebound status. The claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 22, 2021 for the award of a 70 percent rating for service-connected psychiatric disability but denied earlier effective dates for back and neck disabilities.