Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a new examination to assess the severity of their service-connected hip and thigh disabilities. The Board found that the previous examiner did not adequately discuss functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for residuals of a right shoulder injury with osteoarthritis was dismissed because the issue was not adjudicated in the September 2022 rating decision.

The Board granted the veteran's appeal, restoring service connection for all claimed conditions and SMC benefits.

The veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee tendinopathy was denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for right knee meniscus tear residuals was granted.

The Board granted some issues, denied others, and remanded several for further development. The veteran's ratings for onychomycosis and GERD were restored to 30 percent. Effective dates for service connection for right shoulder surgical scars and lumbar spine surgical scar were granted. Several other issues were denied or dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis and denied the appeals for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus, right anterior shoulder scar. The other issues were remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, right wrist surgery, right wrist surgical scar, and right knee osteoarthritis were also denied. However, the reduction in the disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was restored to 20 percent.

The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's cervical spine condition but remanded decisions on ankle osteoarthritis, sleep disorder, and TDIU.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis due to an unclear remand directive from the Court.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for higher ratings for several conditions, including foot and shoulder issues, scars, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied, but the claim for a higher rating for right knee osteoarthritis was remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to a service-connected depressive disorder due to chronic pain associated with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, was granted. The decision is based on evidence showing that obesity caused by the depressive disorder led to the sleep apnea.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hip conditions were partially granted and partially denied. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of metacarpal carpal osteoarthritis right thumb due to inadequate medical opinion. A new examination is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine osteoarthritis, left foot heel spur, and residuals of multiple left ankle sprains has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's obesity was an intermediate step between these conditions and OSA.

The Board remanded the claims for increased ratings for left ankle and left knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip conditions were granted. Claims for an earlier effective date for left knee condition and a residual shoulder scar were denied or dismissed.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, so he is granted total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board remanded the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran will receive an additional VA examination to ascertain the severity and manifestations of his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, left foot strain, and left hip strain was dismissed because the Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.