Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted. Service connection for recurrent ear infections was also granted. However, several disability rating increases were denied.

The Board remanded the claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating of left knee instability. The Veteran's private treatment records need to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, lumbar surgery, pseudo-claudication syndrome, and severe diffuse lumbar scoliosis. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for increased ratings of several conditions, stating that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year before the claim.

The veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was restored to 40 percent effective November 10, 2022. However, the request for a rating in excess of 40 percent was denied.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee degenerative arthritis to obtain missing medical records and a new medical opinion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis was granted. The claim for right knee disability was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for TBI and higher ratings for various conditions but remanded decisions on the effective date for left lower extremity radiculopathy and rating for IVDS.

The veteran's left knee conditions are service-connected effective February 1, 2019. Other issues were denied or remanded.

The Board remanded the case to correct errors and obtain additional medical opinions regarding the veteran's right hip disorder.

The veteran's service connection for a low back disorder, including degenerative arthritis and disc disease, is granted. The decision is based on the presumption of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 5, 2022. The case is remanded for consideration of TDIU prior to this date.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date earlier than February 9, 2018, for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc disease. The decision is based on the procedural history and legal framework governing effective dates.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal regarding increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected right heel tendonitis with osteoarthritis of the right ankle and migraine headaches due to a finding of duty to assist errors.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board found that further VA examinations are needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis. The Veteran's contention is that his lower back pain is due to injuries sustained during service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions except bilateral hearing loss, which was remanded. The Veteran's surviving spouse is the appellant.

Service connection for migraine headaches was granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. All other conditions were either denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder condition, including degenerative arthritis and calcific tendonitis, because the evidence did not show that the condition was related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right shoulder disability, including right glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, because there was no evidence of an in-service injury or event causing the condition.