Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, but remanded other issues including entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and related conditions, including right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right leg atrophy, left hip degenerative joint disease with osteoarthritis, and left knee total arthroplasty.

The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine condition, including chronic mechanical spine syndrome and lumbar degenerative arthritis, with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy but denied service connection for dextroscoliosis.

The Board granted service connection for atrial fibrillation and heart palpitations, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraines headaches, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Service connection for right hand degenerative arthritis and sinusitis was denied.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, and osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the right knee prior to October 25, 2023. The claim for a left knee disability was also granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, left hip strain, and right knee strain with degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis on a presumptive basis, but denied service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of degenerative arthritis in various fingers of both hands due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected knee disabilities, but denied service connection for a variety of other conditions including bilateral ankle, shoulder, foot, mood disorder, tinnitus, hyperlipidemia, and knees.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis to ensure an adequate medical opinion is obtained.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine based on a finding that the Veteran's symptoms persisted from an in-service back injury and that this condition is considered chronic by VA.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their severity in an unmedicated state.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, service connection for a right hip disability (degenerative arthritis), and a right elbow disability.

The Board granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, and a low back disability are remanded.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and an earlier effective date of August 28, 2018, for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the degenerative arthritis DDD other than IVDS with chronic lumbar syndrome since May 1, 2023, and remanded claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, skin condition, and neck condition.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, SMC at the M level based on loss of use of the lower extremities, and SMC at the O level based on the award of SMC L and SMC M. The claim for SMC based on housebound status was dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and his active duty service.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and a 30 percent rating for the right shoulder disability, effective from June 21, 2021. The decision also granted TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the case.