Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of 60 percent for left knee disability to obtain Social Security records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee strain post meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis and ankylosis, degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with stenosis and disc bulge, limitation of extension of the right knee, chronic right knee strain, impairment of the knee, residuals of left fractured ribs, tinnitus, hearing loss, and a scar associated with the left knee, were productive of functional impairment which precluded substantially gainful employment from January 26, 2015 through September 21, 2017.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for femoral nerve radiculopathy and higher ratings for back disability with IVDS and right shoulder disability.

The veteran withdrew all appeals, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review them.

The Board remands the claims for revision of an April 2017 rating decision that denied service connection for TBI and a February 2020 rating decision that reduced the Veteran's disability rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, both on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches and variants, finding no evidence of a direct link to service or aggravation by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claim for cervical spine degenerative arthritis was remanded for readjudication based on new evidence linking obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis, limitation of extension, as the evidence did not support a finding that the condition warranted a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no medical nexus between the current condition and his military service.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities prior to December 2, 2024, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability associated with both knees.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (manifested as plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and hallux valgus) is service-connected. Bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings and effective date for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding flare-ups' impact on range of motion.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his low back and left knee disabilities to ensure compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a right hand fracture, to include osteoarthritis, and remanded the claim for vertigo.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine condition to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses all pertinent evidence, including lay statements and in-service activities.

The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's right knee disability, and denied a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of a Board Appeal request and dismissed the attempted appeals.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent disability rating for right knee limitation of flexion, status post meniscus tear/repair and granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right knee limitation of extension with painful motion and 20 percent for degenerative arthritis and disc disease with lumbar strain.

The Board granted higher initial ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, to include degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulposus L3-4 with intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.