Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues.

The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left rotator cuff tendonitis and in excess of 10 percent prior to May 15, 2024, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for left knee osteoarthritis due to a need for additional medical evidence.

The Board granted an effective date of April 24, 2014, for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, a rating of 40 percent from April 24, 2014 to August 13, 2020 for the back disability, and a separate rating for bowel incontinence associated with the back disability.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, as the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea versicolor and remanded the claims for service connection, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left hip strain with osteoarthritis, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, left knee strain with knee joint osteoarthritis, and right knee strain with knee joint osteoarthritis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for the low back condition, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board granted service connection for a temporomandibular joint disorder, sleep disorder (claimed as obstructive sleep apnea), lumbar spine strain, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The claim for traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of foot due to service-connected right knee disability for a medical opinion.

The Board denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for osteoarthritis of the right hip, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for left hand and right hand essential tremors, as well as increased ratings for knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle. The appeal was denied for a left ankle disability.

The Board denied or dismissed the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and service connection for various conditions, with some grants of earlier effective dates and initial ratings.

The Board denied increased ratings for the left knee disability and instability, but granted a 100 percent rating from May 31, 2023, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with bipolar I disorder.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with bilateral sacroiliac joint dysfunction, injury of nerves at right wrist and hand level, neuritis of the musculocutaneous nerve (superficial peroneal), injury of nerves at right wrist and hand level, all radicular groups, and nerve damage to right wrist and hand (claimed as right wrist condition). Service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of disability ratings for left hip osteoarthritis, specifically a 40 percent rating for limitation of flexion, a 20 percent rating for thigh impairment, and a 10 percent rating for limitation of extension, from November 18, 2020.

The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for heart disease and a rating higher than 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss, but restored the 60 percent rating for gout effective June 1, 2020. The claims for ratings higher than 30 percent for right shoulder disability were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure proper due process, including adequate requests for service and medical records, and adequate medical examinations based upon an accurate record.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, specifically to obtain addendum medical opinions assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and right knee in terms of functional loss with weight bearing and passive motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status due to a lack of evidence showing that her service-connected disabilities rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis and headaches as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability, but denied higher ratings for the cervical spine and upper extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's back scar and remanded issues related to increased ratings for lumbar spine, left knee, and radiculopathy disabilities.