Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted restoration of the ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, effective April 1, 2023.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for initial disability ratings and a compensable rating for service-connected knee conditions, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU was granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned effective September 22, 2009.

The Board granted an effective date of February 28, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sleeping issues to include insomnia but denied earlier effective dates for both conditions.

The Board denied the applications to revise an October 2022 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for assigning effective dates of May 27, 2021 for various service connection claims.

The Board granted an effective date of May 13, 2019, for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post-traumatic arthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post-traumatic arthritis, and degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to ensure an adequate assessment of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including range of motion measurements in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee strain, lower back condition, and nerve paralysis of the left lower extremity to obtain a direct medical opinion.

The appeal for entitlement to left hip injury, right hip injury, and right hand injury was dismissed as these issues were not properly appealed. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability but denied an earlier effective date and a higher rating for right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's service connection for restless leg syndrome was granted, while the claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis with vertebral fracture, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and tinnitus were denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right and left ankle tendonitis, and a right hand fifth metacarpal (little finger) fracture.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence gathering.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine condition, but dismissed the claims for cervical spine pain and degenerative arthritis of the left knee.

The appeal for evaluation in excess of 40 percent and an earlier effective date for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been dismissed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a complete record of service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, degenerative arthritis of neck, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in reliance on an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his right shoulder surgical scars and remanded the claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis, status-post rotator cuff repair.

The Board granted service connection for total left knee replacement and moderate osteoarthritis of the right knee, to include as secondary to a service-connected condition. The Board also denied effective dates prior to September 22, 2022, for certain disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.