Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an extension of the temporary total rating for right knee surgery, denied initial and increased ratings for degenerative arthritis right knee, limitation of flexion, granted a separate 30 percent rating for right knee instability prior to January 29, 2021, and a 20 percent rating from that date, and dismissed appeals for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 1, 2018.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis with fibula fracture, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The appeal concerning the service connection for right knee, lumbar spine, left knee, and hypertension has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The appeal of the issues regarding increased disability evaluations for left and right knee conditions were dismissed due to a procedural defect in the notice of disagreement.

The Board remands the case for further development and readjudication of the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his lumbar spine condition.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left trochanteric bursitis, and right trochanteric pain syndrome as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board also granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left hip disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability but remanded the claim for a right hip disorder.

The Board granted service connection for right knee condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, based on the Veteran's in-service onset and continuous symptoms since discharge.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee femorotibial osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than IVDS and status post ACDF (claimed as cervical injury with surgery) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, left knee strain with osteoarthritis, and right knee condition.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, left foot disability to include stress fracture left great toe, sesamoiditis, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims for left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no current disability or sufficient evidence to support higher ratings.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and remanded initial rating claims, except for an effective date of April 25, 1999, for left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and a back disability, resolving reasonable doubts in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability, right knee disability (including degenerative arthritis), and obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 20, 2019, as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis/neurological conditions, as well as functional impairment estimates absent medication effects.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and a 20 percent evaluation for left ankle sprain, but remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 18, 2022.