Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection were dismissed because the veteran withdrew them.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for various hand conditions due to lack of required symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for hypertension was denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder was dismissed.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine was partially granted and partially remanded. The veteran was granted a 20% rating from May 1, 2019, to October 16, 2020, and a 50% rating for migraines for the entire period on appeal. Other issues were remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis was granted. The claims for lumbar spine disability and a higher rating for left shoulder rotator cuff tear were denied.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection for hypertension to obtain a new medical opinion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective from February 8, 2017. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent prior to February 8, 2017 was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain relevant medical records. The issues include service connection for a right wrist disability, ratings for various disabilities, and evaluations of mental health conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disc disease was granted. Effective dates earlier than January 10, 2012, for RIGHT knee osteoarthritis and residuals of a RIGHT first toe distal phalanx fracture were denied. An effective date of July 7, 2009, for urticaria (hives) was granted. Issues related to service connection for a cervical spine disorder and initial ratings for several conditions were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's back disability, finding that it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 30 percent each since March 19, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been reopened, and the Board is remanding this issue.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee instability and left knee instability (on the basis of limitation of flexion) have also been remanded.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings and TDIU. The Veteran's right knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed. The claims for higher ratings for several conditions were remanded. An effective date of September 5, 2019, for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine condition, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and respiratory conditions. The Board found that the VA failed to obtain relevant private medical records and adequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no causal relationship to military service.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings were mostly denied, but a rating of 90 percent for residuals of a right total hip replacement and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) were granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for various conditions were denied. The claim for left knee degenerative arthritis was remanded.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied. The claims for pulmonary sarcoidosis and lung cancer were remanded for further evaluation.