Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and a 30 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity effective February 25, 2019.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and other benefits, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional compensation.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis and left shoulder degenerative arthritis to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance that the Veteran's current back disability is related to active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hand degenerative joint disease, left hand degenerative joint disease, right knee arthritis, left knee patellofemoral arthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected spine disability, as the previous examinations were found inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of onset during or within one year after service and no medical nexus between in-service noise exposure and the current condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right hip osteoarthritis but granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of adduction causing an inability to cross legs.

The Board remands the claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis, right ankle to cure a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The appeal was granted for service connection of left ear hearing loss and OSA, but denied for hepatic steatosis. Several claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted TDIU, SMC at the housebound rate, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis and DDD with spinal stenosis.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active service or any incident of service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and osteoarthritis of the left hip, right hip, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, a lumbar spine disability manifested by low back pain, and left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing process.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for a right wrist scar and limitation of extension of the left knee.

The appeal of the proposed decrease in rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical strain is dismissed.