Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities, secondary to service-connected right eye disabilities. The Board found that adequate medical opinions were not provided.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for osteoarthritis, chronic venous insufficiency, seborrheic dermatitis, and porphyria cutanea tarda were denied. The issue of service connection for tremors was remanded.

The appeal was dismissed without prejudice because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted the Veteran's petition to readjudicate the claim for an earlier effective date for the award of ratings for his back disability and related peripheral nerve disabilities due to new and relevant evidence.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis was denied. The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for an abdominal scar starting June 7, 2022, and a 30 percent rating for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome from August 15, 2012 to October 17, 2013 and from December 1, 2013. The veteran's claims for service connection for right hip joint replacement and right knee status post total arthroplasty were remanded.

The Board denied all claims for increased or initial ratings for the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbosacral spine disability was granted due to new and relevant evidence showing the condition began during active duty.

The veteran's appeal regarding the rating reduction for IVDS and entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee strain with patellar instability.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis. The veteran will receive another VA examination to determine if his knee conditions are related to his military service.

Service connection for both left and right knee degenerative arthritis has been granted.

The appeal for service connection of a lower back condition is remanded to correct errors in the duty to assist. The Board will consider new evidence and opinions.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of right hip degenerative arthritis due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with an adequate medical opinion.

The veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2021. This means the veteran is considered totally disabled due to service-connected conditions and unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran was granted a 20% rating for several conditions but denied higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The veteran was also granted TDIU from January 30, 2017.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral knee pain was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement did not identify a specific decision and was filed outside the one-year window. The veteran had already been granted service connection for painful bilateral knee osteoarthritis with an effective date of June 23, 2015.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, so he is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant were denied. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was remanded.

Service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis was granted. Service connection for right and left hip disabilities was denied.