Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 28, 2023, and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for radiculopathy of the femoral and sciatic nerves, but denied it for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. Agent fees were awarded in part.

The Board granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis and denied it for right knee strain.

The Veteran is granted a Total Disability Rating for Compensation and Special Monthly Compensation based on statutory housebound status due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, which render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and left ankle strain are remanded due to inadequate VA compensation examination reports.

The Board remands the claim for an increased disability rating for traumatic degenerative arthritis (DJD) of the left ankle to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating more than 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis, to include period(s) of convalescence, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis & separation condition, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and sleep apnea with asthma.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear residuals, but remanded the claims for a recurrent sleep disability to include obstructive sleep apnea and a compensable rating for TBI residuals.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the left and right foot great toe ingrown toenails but granted a 10 percent rating for the painful right foot great toe ingrown toenail. The claims for increased ratings for the left knee strain with instability and service connection for a lumbar spine disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a left knee disability, and right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the left knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for left big toe hallux rigidus and denied increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability, initial rating for left big toe injury, and compensable rating for left toenail onychomycosis.

The Board remands the claims for an increased evaluation of a lumbar spine disability, service connection for migraines and chronic sinusitis due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than August 31, 2016, for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis and pes planus because that was the date VA received his intent to file a claim following a previous final denial.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral knee pain, neck pain, right shoulder pain, and osteoarthritis of the whole body as there was no evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right wrist disability based on the evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during the Veteran's active military service.

The appeal for eligibility for the direct payment of fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a November 2024 Rating Decision was dismissed due to the appellant's intent to withdraw the issue on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variably diagnosed as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, but dismissed the appeals for left shoulder degenerative arthritis joint disease, cervicalgia with degenerative changes of the neck, a bilateral eye condition, denied an effective date prior to July 11, 2020, for service connection for lumbosacral strain, and remanded the claim for TIA.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, hypertension, and migraine headaches to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in ratings for lumbosacral strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed due to procedural errors.