Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.

The Board denied an effective date prior to December 4, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disability. However, it granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.

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 current medical findings.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as separate ratings of 10 to 20 percent for various nerve conditions. The back disability was denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disorder to obtain an addendum VA opinion that addresses the etiology of each of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorders.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and right thumb disabilities prior to certain dates but granted a 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability effective October 29, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence and non-compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee osteoarthritis, as he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied an increased rating of more than 20 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis from February 19, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and voiding dysfunction as residuals of a stroke, and granted initial ratings for the back disability, left shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims for earlier effective dates for hypertension and stroke were denied.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, but no higher.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for right knee strain to ensure that the estimated range of motion provided for repeated use over time and during flare-ups is sufficient for rating purposes.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, bilateral hip conditions and entitlement to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated during his period of ACDUTRA.

The Board granted service connection for squamous cell cancer and denied the claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for implanted cardiac pacemaker, and several other conditions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 8, 2016 for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion and extension status post septic right hip.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, to include osteoarthritis, and a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board remands the appeal for an examination to determine the severity of the service-connected knee disabilities following convalescence.

The Board granted service connection for a heart disability, to include atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim for cervical degenerative arthritis was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the disabilities, and no evidence that the disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by service.