Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for vertigo secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) for additional development.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for major depression, asthma, degenerative arthritis, status post surgery, and bilateral gynecomastia.

The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure compliance with its duty to assist, specifically regarding the adequacy of VA examinations and obtaining a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum, but remanded claims for increased ratings for migraines and lumbar spine disability.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus, melanoma to the left lower eye lid, and skin cancer on the back was dismissed. The appeal for asthma was granted in part, as a Higher-Level Review (HLR) request was timely filed. Other appeals were denied.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no evidence of a current disability during the period on appeal. The claims for sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, and schizoaffective disorder were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar enthesopathy DDD, IVDS, and/or degenerative arthritis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder strains, as well as a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted an effective date of July 30, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension and dismissed claims for earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis, a left shoulder disability, bilateral lower extremity nerve conditions, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a neck disability due to non-jurisdictional procedural defects in the Veteran's August 2024 VA Form 10182.

The Board denied service connection for a left hand and wrist disability, initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities, and an initial compensable rating for ingrown toenail of the bilateral big toe. The claims for service connection for reproductive disability, PTSD, and alcohol use disorder were remanded.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded several issues for further development.

The Board granted service connection for left and right foot disabilities, left and right knee arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine with spondylosis, but denied lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of back injury, residuals of excision of ingrown toenail, left ankle sprain, and pseudofolliculitis on face to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected spine, hip and knee disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, as the March 2024 VA examination is inadequate due to inconsistencies regarding flare-ups.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a 40 percent rating for lower back strain. The ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also adjusted, with TDIU granted.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of the conditions.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, depression, and tinnitus due to duty to assist errors prior to the April 2024 rating decision.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient VA examinations.