Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and acetabular impingement syndrome and left hip osteoarthritis, finding that the conditions originated during active service.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, meniscal tear and shin splints, but denied higher ratings for other knee conditions. Service connection was also granted for left knee radiculopathy.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, wrist, and little finger disabilities to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and 30 percent for right knee patellar chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, but not higher.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board granted an effective date of January 26, 2022, for service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and a 10 percent rating for limited extension of the left hip effective June 15, 2023. The claims for higher ratings for flexion and abduction were denied.

The Board denied higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis and heel spur to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, to include replacements and osteoarthritis, as well as dismissed the appeal for service connection for left ankle pain due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement.

The Board granted service connection for neck disabilities, diagnosed as a cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease other than IVDS.

The appeal for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board granted a 40 percent initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome; 20 percent initial disability ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy; and a 10 percent disability rating for limitation of extension in the left hip due to osteoarthritis. The claim for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain, right foot hallux valgus and capsulitis, right knee meniscal tear, right hand mild to moderate osteoarthritis and ULC MPC calcification calcium deposit of bursa with right thumb chronic UCL injury, and osteoarthritis, joint of left thumb. The claim for a left foot disability was denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot metatarsalgia, hallux rigidus, and osteoarthritis based on the evidence showing current diagnoses and a nexus to in-service symptoms.

The Board remands the matter for further development to clarify the Veteran's employment status during the appeal period and determine if a TDIU is warranted.

The Board remands the claim for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations and missing non-VA treatment records.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's right knee scars and remanded the claim for an increased rating of the service-connected right knee osteoarthritis due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for keratoderma is dismissed as moot. Service connection was granted for several conditions, and effective dates were assigned.