Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee condition, and headaches due to the Veteran's failure to confirm his intent to proceed with a Board appeal.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine as new and relevant evidence was not submitted to warrant readjudication.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for left carpal scaphoid fracture with degenerative arthritis was denied. The claims for service connection for right shoulder bursitis, right foot condition, and left foot condition were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 40% for their back condition. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing the criteria for a higher rating were met.

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis and chronic sinusitis have been granted increased ratings, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for his right ankle condition.

The Board remanded the appeal to obtain a new retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease. The previous opinions were inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's service and current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of a back disability since his service.

The veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits is granted as of January 8, 2020.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of OSA, including as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, asthma, and IBS. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits was confirmed.

The veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction but denied for left elbow disability. The rating for neck disability and PTSD were not increased, and several other conditions were remanded for further review.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied. The veteran was granted a 30% rating for tension headaches and a 10% rating for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Other claims were remanded.

The veteran's claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted as secondary to a service-connected thoracic sprain. Other claims were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis and L4-L5 disc protrusion as secondary to a service-connected knee condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent disability rating for lumbar IVDS with degenerative arthritis. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing the condition met the criteria for such a rating before May 18, 2022.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for erectile dysfunction and surgical scar was denied. A 10% rating was granted for right hip thigh impairment with degenerative arthritis. Claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and left knee disability were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lower back pain and higher initial ratings for PTSD, right achilles tendonitis, and left shoulder conditions.

The Board remands the claims for an increased disability rating and earlier effective date as it finds that additional evidence, specifically treatment records from a chiropractor and physical therapist, needs to be obtained.