Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The veteran withdrew the appeal for both an earlier effective date and increased evaluation for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, strain, scoliosis, and facet arthropathy, as well as a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy.

The appeal of a proposed rating reduction for lumbar strain with osteoarthritis is dismissed because the August 2023 rating decision was not a final decision.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, headaches, bilateral cataracts, and left hand osteoarthritis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding a current disability and credible reports of in-service symptoms.

The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as low back injury) has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and 20 percent ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis was denied, as well as the TDIU.

The Board remands the increased rating claim for the Veteran's cervical spine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an adequate medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date than February 24, 2021 for the award of a 20 percent rating for left knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's status post right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected status post left total knee arthroplasty.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for non-degenerative arthritis, and the appeal has been dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as further development is needed.

The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD due to symptoms that cause total occupational and social impairment.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to obtain an adequate examination.

The Board remands the claim for entitlement to service connection for right hip osteoarthritis as it finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error occurred, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion on aggravation.

The Board denied increased ratings for right hip degenerative arthritis and bilateral hearing loss, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded claims for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma and service connection for left foot pes planus with left foot cyst.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty as secondary to PTSD with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left knee disability, residuals of a left varicocelectomy, and lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the range of motion limitations and other factors.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis higher than 10 percent from April 3, 2015, through December 4, 2018, and higher than 20 percent from December 5, 2018, through March 8, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and a rating increase due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.