Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for lumbar spine DDD from January 1, 2025.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include mild degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the L2-L3 vertebrae and degenerative arthritis.

The appeal of a proposed reduction of the evaluation of left knee meniscal tear, status post arthroscopic repair with chondromalacia, to include degenerative arthritis from 20 percent to 10 percent is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left knee disability was also denied.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability, to include meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on a chronic condition noted during service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear, cervical spine degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis based on the Veteran's credible statements and a private medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, other than posttraumatic, and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches.

The Board granted an effective date of December 5, 2019, for the award of service connection for right hip osteoarthritis joint replacement with thigh impairment and status post right hip surgery scar.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding the evidence in equipoise.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and major adjustment disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left shoulder, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg shin splints, and right shoulder condition were remanded.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating, but granted an effective date of August 5, 2021, for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy, right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy, and tinnitus based on the evidence showing onset during active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis. The claim for headaches was dismissed as moot after the March 2025 rating decision awarded service connection for migraine (claimed as tension headaches).

The Board remands the appeal to the agency of original jurisdiction for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition as secondary to her service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and restored the 20% rating for a lumbar spine disability. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied service connection for liver disease, arthritis, psychiatric disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, mood disorder due to known physiological condition with depressive like features, bilateral foot pain with plantar fasciitis, and right foot pes planus. The decision also denied an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion, a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability, an initial compensable disability rating for uterine fibroids, and a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a lower back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle post-traumatic arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and right bundle branch block.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, finding that the disability was aggravated during service.