Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee tendonitis due to a lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between the conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the right and left knee disabilities, granted a 20 percent rating for the right knee meniscal tear prior to February 18, 2016, dismissed TDIU, and denied special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple conditions was dismissed due to a late filing.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain due to the service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis and a 10 percent disability rating for narcolepsy, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer, service connection for osteoarthritis of both knees, pseudophakia (claimed as vision), and entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for aortic valve stenosis as secondary to hypertension, but denied service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis and remanded the claim for further development regarding osteoporosis of the back.

The Board granted effective dates of July 16, 2020, for the grants of service connection and DEA benefits, but denied higher ratings for back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an effective date of January 22, 2021, for the assignment of a 40 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and for the award of service connection sciatica of the left lower extremity.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, restored a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, restored a previous disability rating for radiculopathy of femoral nerve, right lower extremity, and granted an increased 50 percent disability rating for migraines.

The appeal to readjudicate the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are dismissed as there is no question of law or fact on appeal.

The Board restored the 30 percent disability rating for a right elbow disability effective December 15, 2022, as the reduction was improper.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for left knee joint osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella to schedule a new VA examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, shoulder, and foot disabilities based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, effective May 26, 2009.

The Board granted an effective date of August 31, 2011, for the award of a 30 percent disability evaluation for degenerative arthritis and cervical strain.

The Board granted an effective date of March 24, 2022, for the grant of service connection for various conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of January 12, 2017, for the 20 percent evaluation of cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and instability, as well as entitlement to TDIU, due to the need for an updated VA examination.