Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The appeal for an increased rating for left ankle osteoarthritis was dismissed due to a concurrent election and error in the filing process.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while denying service connection for gastroenteritis. The rating assigned was 10 percent for left ankle scars and 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome with pinguecula.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability as the evidence did not support a finding that it was related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to ensure that all range-of-motion testing requirements are met, as per Correia v. McDonald.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, bilateral hand degenerative arthritis, a bilateral foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to allow for further development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left hip degenerative arthritis, and other musculoskeletal issues.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine spondylosis and denied increased ratings for right hip osteoarthritis, including for limitation of flexion, abduction/adduction/rotation, and extension.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for left hip strain limitation of extension and right hip strain limitation of extension.

The Board remands the case to obtain a retrospective medical opinion on the extent that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities affect his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left shoulders, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The appeals for increased ratings for radiculopathy were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for right knee status post arthroplasty, based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for hypertension, fracture of the right ring finger, lumbar scar, right ankle scars, and right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied initial ratings above the assigned levels for various service-connected conditions, except for a 50 percent rating for tension headaches.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder, finding that the symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating based on the facts found.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee meniscal tear, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine surgery, and radiculopathies as secondary to cervical spine surgery due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, dismissing his appeal for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's passing.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee osteoarthritis due to noncompliance with previous remand directives.