Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity disorder, and left knee disorder based on the evidence supporting their direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities to ensure an adequate record upon which to decide the claims, as the current examination report is insufficient due to its failure to account for the ameliorating effects of medication.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents and remanded the claims for left hand disability, chronic kidney disease, and compensable initial disability rating for hypothyroidism.

The Board remands the claim for a secondary service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis to obtain an addendum opinion addressing aggravation.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of April 9, 2012 for the grants of service connection for left and right hip degenerative arthritis based on limitation of extension, flexion, and abduction.

The Board granted service connection for bruxism and migraine/ headaches as secondary to a service-connected mental disorder, but dismissed the claims for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine with strain (back condition) and vertigo due to procedural issues. The claim for tinnitus was denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, left ankle tendinosis, and left knee osteoarthritis. Service connection was denied for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the left and right knee osteoarthritis, effective from August 14, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for left leg pain and numbness, right leg pain and numbness, and a lumbar back disability, all based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in active service.

The Board denied a rating greater than 10 percent for right knee internal derangement, chondromalacia, and degenerative arthritis with painful motion, denied a compensable rating for the same condition with limited extension, but granted a 10 percent rating for right lateral knee instability.

The Board granted service connection for insomnia, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of spine and GAD, but denied increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and migraines.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's knee, shoulder, neck, and headache conditions but granted restoration of a 50% rating for PTSD from March 1, 2021 to April 17, 2021, and an earlier effective date for Dependent's Educational Assistance.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar strain, effective from May 1, 2023, as the reduction was not proper.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and the condition did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board granted the appeal for restoration of the 40 percent rating for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that the reduction was improper.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, indicating satisfaction with the current ratings.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and left knee degenerative arthritis, as the first claims were received on June 1, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for steatohepatitis and gastrointestinal impairment, to include chronic diarrhea and GERD. The claims for a chronic cough, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, facial scar, back disability, left hip disability, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension were denied.