Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, to include osteoarthritis (OA), as well as diabetes mellitus, Type II (DM II) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, low back, left and right knee, as well as left and right foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings of the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis to obtain an addendum opinion addressing inadequacies in previous opinions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development, specifically to obtain a VA examination that complies with previous remand instructions.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches from October 27, 2017 and denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling prior to August 10, 2022, for lumbar degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a right knee disability, to include osteoarthritis, for an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis with tendonitis and limited extension, and instability.

The Board denied the appeals for a rating in excess of 20 percent for disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome in both knees.

The veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, from April 20, 2022. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle disabilities were granted increased ratings to 40 percent from July 8, 2016.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine condition and separate ratings for left knee instability, but denied other claims including increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates.

The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure that VA has met its duty to assist in the development of the claims.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, remanded several other issues including a rating increase for major depressive disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, disorders of the hands, and a foot disorder.

The case is remanded for further development and an additional VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board granted separate ratings for a left knee meniscal tear and left knee instability, as well as a rating for left knee total replacement, but denied an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination and need for additional evidence.

The appeal is remanded to address the Veteran's arguments concerning compliance with hearing officer duties and to obtain additional evidence related to muscle impairment associated with his right shoulder disability.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for the thoracolumbar spine disability and right ankle disability, granted service connection for an acquired mental disorder as due to a service-connected disability, and dismissed the claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for service connection, TDIU, and SMC due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disability.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee disabilities and TDIU due to further development needed.