Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's knee and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, while granting a 30% rating for herpes simplex labialis and service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia, a bilateral foot disorder (claimed as osteoarthritis), and tinnitus. The claim for an increased rating for a right wrist condition was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, vertigo (also claimed as dizziness), left knee tendonitis and osteoarthritis, right knee strain and osteoarthritis, left hip disorder diagnosed as left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip disorder diagnosed as right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and neurological impairment of the left upper extremity, finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Board also granted initial ratings of 20%, 30%, and 70% for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, respectively.

The veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's low back, right elbow, and left knee disabilities as there was no evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 20, 2019 for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected dizziness was granted.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, but remanded the issue of a low back disability for further development.

The appeal was dismissed because the proposed changes in effective dates had not been finalized at the time of the Veteran's notice of disagreement.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine to include degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) based on the evidence showing that forward flexion has been limited to no less than 45 degrees, which is greater than the 30 degrees required for a higher rating.

The appeal for an earlier effective date of September 26, 2023, was dismissed as moot because the benefit sought had already been granted.

The Board denied service connection for a scar on the right big toe region and denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including right hip strain and right knee osteoarthritis. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and cervical degenerative arthritis with right upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for initial increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the fingers due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for sarcoidosis from February 28, 2023, and denied higher ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of October 24, 2022 for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with muscle spasm and 20 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).

The Board remands the claims for further evaluation of the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis due to deficiencies in a recent VA examination report.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, considering that his service-connected orthopedic disabilities and major depressive disorder contributed substantially to his death.