Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions and a psychiatric condition, all of which were determined to be caused by an in-service injury.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative osteoarthritis, depressive disorder due to multiple conditions with tobacco use disorder, and anxiety as they are inextricably intertwined.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, residuals of left foot frostbite, and residuals of right foot frostbite. The appeal was denied for a compensable disability rating for tinea genitocrural, intergluteal and tinea pedis, and onychomycosis.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of right hip joint replacement, left hip degenerative arthritis and residuals of joint replacement, and right and left knee degenerative arthritis. The claim for vertigo was denied.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for depressive disorder with major depressive like episodes and anxious distress, effective from October 21, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for irregular sleep/wake rhythm and granted service connection for left shoulder trapezius strain, while remanding claims for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, IVDS with strain of muscle and tendon of back wall of thorax, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, to include trochanteric bursitis, and nevus.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and a skin disability but granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica) as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain and an initial 10 percent disability rating for essential tremors.

The Board granted service connection for flat foot (pes planus) with plantar fasciitis, plantar fascial fibromatosis, and degenerative arthritis based on the evidence showing a relationship to military service.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected low back disorder, as the evidence demonstrated that regular flare-ups of the back disorder resulted in functional equivalent ankylosis.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and stenosis, and initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy to ensure that VA's duty to assist is properly followed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain, finding that there was no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or a relationship to service.

The Board granted service connection for a right great toe disability, diagnosed as hallux valgus and osteoarthritis. The right knee disorder claim was remanded.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for the lower right leg strain prior to February 7, 2022, and denied a higher rating. The claims for increased ratings were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right knee condition, unexplained aching bones and joints, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip osteoarthritis, left foot trace edema, right foot trace edema, left hand degenerative arthritis, right hand degenerative arthritis, large submandibular growth on left side of neck, pyoderma gangrenosum of bilateral lower extremities, and bladder cancer.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating of various foot conditions and service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims.

The appeal as to the proposed reduction of the rating for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, mild disc bulge with moderate central disc protrusion L5-S1 is dismissed due to procedural issues. The claim for a higher rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to untimely notice of disagreement for both the reduction in rating and service connection claims.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy, to schedule a VA examination.