Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 20 percent from June 17, 2017, to October 27, 2022, but denied a higher rating prior to October 28, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for headaches but denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hand osteoarthritis, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right foot degenerative arthritis of the first MTP joint, but remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating and a higher rating for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of his condition.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address the Correia and Sharp standards, as the previous examination did not meet the required criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis, other than posttraumatic.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations that do not comply with specific requirements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left hallux valgus, as well as the denial of a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis, were decided. The appeal was also granted for service connection for right leg pain, left leg pain, right ankle condition (also claimed as Achilles tendon), and left ankle condition (also claimed as Achilles tendon).

The Board granted restoration of the 30% rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, spondylosis, and cervical strain, as well as the 30% and 40% ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, respectively. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, remanding some issues for further development.

The Board remands the claims for right shoulder and back pain to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the Veteran's work as a welder and in-service injury.

The Board denied a rating more than 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and granted an effective date of April 12, 2022, for service connection for radiculopathy left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) and right lower extremity (sciatic nerve).

The Board remands the case to obtain another VA examination that includes passive range of motion findings for a more accurate assessment of the severity of the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, with effective dates of June 8, 2015 and November 19, 2018 respectively. The Board also granted a rating of 40 percent for IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as of March 24, 2022.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and higher initial evaluations for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, actinic keratoses, plantar fasciitis, basal cell carcinoma, and various musculoskeletal issues.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for the Veteran's fracture of the L1 transverse process with degenerative arthritis and also denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claims for further development to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the April 2022 and May 2023 rating decisions on appeal.

The Board granted ratings of 30 percent or higher for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right shoulder strain, left elbow olecranon bursitis, right elbow olecranon bursitis, and headaches. Service connection was also granted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under the PACT Act.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, granted service connection for tinnitus, and denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for the left wrist ganglion cyst, status post repair with degenerative arthritis, effective September 26, 2023.