Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a right knee disability because the Veteran has not had a VA examination to determine if the disability is related to service. The Board will consider new evidence submitted during an applicable evidentiary window.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for their lumbar spine disorder was granted, with a 50% rating assigned.

The Board denied all claims for increased disability ratings and special monthly compensation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, GAD with panic attacks, and alcohol use disorder was granted. The claims for asthma, GERD, right knee degenerative arthritis, and eczema were remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied. The claim for a foot condition was remanded for further evaluation.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for various hip and knee conditions. The VA needs to correct errors in evaluating the severity of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy were denied. The claims for service connection for left hip avascular necrosis of hip status post left hip arthroplasty and right hip osteoarthritis, hip strain, and avascular necrosis were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU was granted, with the effective date set to April 29, 2004. The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since that date.

The VA denied service connection for the veteran's neck, hip, and back conditions but remanded decisions on other issues to gather more evidence.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied. The claim for service connection for polysubstance dependence and related mental health conditions was remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's rating for right ankle tendonitis and osteoarthritis was restored to 20% effective March 4, 2020. The case is remanded for further evaluation of a potential higher rating.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 16, 2021, for a disability rating of 40 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for left shoulder scars were denied. The claims for higher ratings for lumbar IVDS, left shoulder limitation of motion, and left shoulder instability with repair and degenerative arthritis were remanded.

The Board remanded the appeal to review all evidence and issue a new statement of the case.

The Board remanded the claim for arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout, for further development. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is acknowledged, and exposure to herbicide agents like TCDD is conceded.

Service connection for the veteran's left elbow disorder, including left elbow strain and osteoarthritis associated with an old, displaced fracture of the left elbow, is granted.

The Board remanded the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis and bulging discs. The Veteran's pain and functional loss during flare-ups need further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, both before and after March 4, 2022.

The veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for right knee instability but the claim for a higher rating due to degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for a higher rating and TDIU due to missing records and intertwined issues.