Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's ability to perform daily activities.

The Board granted readjudication of a service connection claim for a low back disability and remanded claims for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee condition, right shoulder pain, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, left and right knee degenerative arthritis, but remanded the claims for a bilateral eye condition and residuals of a fractured rib.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 25, 2022, for service connection for a back condition but remanded the matter of entitlement to an extraschedular total disability based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to April 13, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a bone disorder, back disability, right shoulder radiculopathy, right and left foot osteoarthritis, neck disability, and dry eye syndrome due to the lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or symptoms during service that are related to these conditions.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability, separate ratings of 10 percent each for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a TDIU. The depression was denied an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various disabilities and conditions, including back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, left lower extremity scar associated with the left ankle disability, erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board granted an effective date of July 11, 2023, for the grant of service connection for PTSD, migraines, a bilateral shoulder disability, a low back disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and migraines to VA for an adequate examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him disabled to the extent that he requires regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 40 percent for post-surgical degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine but granted earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for syncope was also granted. However, the claim for hypertensive heart disease was denied.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, right and left hip disabilities, and right and left foot disabilities based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis and labral tear (bilateral hip disability), pseudotumor cerebri, and tinnitus to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left ankle strain, left wrist disorder, right ankle strain, right hip strain, and erectile dysfunction associated with right knee derangement due to an improper concurrent election.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea and left rotator cuff tear including acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions but granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for right hip iliotibial band syndrome, limitation of extension.