Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left hip and right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected conditions and chronic fatigue syndrome. It also granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the back disability, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right arm radiculopathy and an initial 30 percent evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while remanding the remaining claims.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for scoliosis and found that the reduction in the combined disability rating for bulging discs in the lumbar spine, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and spondylosis from 40 percent to 10 percent was proper.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and a cervical spine disability, to include cervical degenerative arthritis, due to untimely filings.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and a separate disability rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right leg, while denying a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, while dismissing the appeal for sinusitis. The claims for initial disability ratings for acute bronchitis and right knee osteoarthritis were remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on all listed service-connected conditions due to a concurrent election of options, which is prohibited.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hand osteoarthritis, anxiety, PTSD, sleep problems, and a left shoulder disability. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the condition was aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis and meralgia paresthetica, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, diagnosed as knee joint osteoarthritis, based on the Veteran's credible lay statements and medical evidence showing onset during service.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis prior to August 7, 2015, and denied higher ratings for instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right wrist disorder due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle osteoarthritis with tendonitis and sprain prior to May 15, 2025 due to a need for additional evidence.

The appeal was partially denied, with the denial of increased ratings for left shoulder and knee disabilities, but a separate award of service connection for left knee instability was granted.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran and finding that her back disability had its initial onset during active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and left hip disability to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for left hand degenerative arthritis and Crohn's disease, both on a direct basis with presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. The claims for sialadenitis and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine. Other claims were remanded.