Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions but granted service connection for ADHD.

The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine to obtain a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected condition prior to November 8, 2022.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and remanded the claims for higher ratings due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left knee instability from August 14, 2020, and denied higher ratings for both conditions at other times.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow flexion and extension, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for flexion or a compensable rating for extension.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for right ankle tendonitis and degenerative arthritis prior to November 29, 2018, and a rating higher than 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the regular need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected traumatic brain injury, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain with joint osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, but remanded the claim for an initial rating greater than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted, while a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. Several service connection claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and IVDS, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve).

The Board remands the claim for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis to obtain an additional medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sinusitis, and sleep apnea but granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain and bilateral knee strain. The claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for the appellant's service-connected conditions was withdrawn, and no disability ratings were assigned.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, healed fracture of the left 2nd toe, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and non-ulcer dyspepsia.

The Board granted an effective date of August 6, 2021, but no earlier, for the award of a 10 percent rating for right hip strain, impairment of the thigh. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied an effective date prior to November 1, 2018 for the 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for left ankle disability and a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity post-traumatic venous sufficiency, but the claim for a compensable rating for left ankle skin discoloration and/or disfigurement was denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, respiratory infection, and chronic sinusitis were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, a left ankle disability as secondary to the left knee condition, and left plantar fasciitis as secondary to the left knee condition.