Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding no credible evidence of an in-service injury or exposure that caused the current conditions.

The appeal for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain has been remanded. The Board needs more information to decide.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder as caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral knee disability due to lack of medical evidence showing a causal relationship.

The claim to readjudicate service connection for a low back disability based on new evidence was granted. However, the claim for service connection for the same disability was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for lumbar spine issues is remanded for further evaluation. The Board needs more information to determine the correct rating.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of low back and cervical spine disabilities, including osteoarthritis and IVDS, to include as secondary to hypothyroidism. The Board ordered a new or supplemental examination and opinion.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral pes planus and IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied. A 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from December 4, 2019 to August 13, 2020 was granted. Other claims were also denied or dismissed.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for ankle sprains were denied, but separate 10 percent ratings for ankle instability were granted. The claim for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis and TDIU was remanded.

The veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings and service connection for several conditions was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and related conditions due to deficiencies in the medical opinions and missing records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic respiratory condition and right hip osteoarthritis were granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for MDD was granted, but the increased rating for left foot fracture and service connection for hip conditions were denied or remanded. The claim for TDIU was also remanded.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disorder. The Veteran will undergo a new VA examination to determine the nature and cause of his condition.

The veteran's service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, right hip osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis s/p hip replacement, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted.

The veteran was granted a 40% disability rating for their service-connected spinal conditions but denied a higher rating. The effective date of the rating is September 1, 2011.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The effective date for obstructive sleep apnea is September 29, 2020. The effective date for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc displacement is denied earlier than January 4, 2021. The effective date for right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is January 4, 2021. An initial evaluation of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and disc placement from January 4, 2021, to November 29, 2021, is granted.

The veteran's claims for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy sciatica, and knee strains were granted as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Other conditions were remanded.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A compensable rating for left lower extremity surgery scar is denied. All other issues are remanded.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date for several service-connected conditions but remanded the issues related to initial disability ratings.

The veteran's request for a disability rating above 70% for PTSD was denied, but they were granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to their service-connected PTSD.