Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot Morton's neuroma were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, while remanding the claims for lumbosacral strain and plantar fasciitis of the left and right foot.

The Board restored the 50% rating for headaches and the 30% rating for a cervical spine disability, as the reductions were improper. The claims for service connection for OSA, a higher rating for allergic rhinitis, and a sinus disorder are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to right foot disabilities, finding no evidence that the Veteran's left hip disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and lumbar spine disability as there were duty to assist errors prior to the May 2025 rating decision.

The Board granted an effective date of June 20, 2001, for the award of service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, including loss of the sense of smell, urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, and Parkinson's disease, among others.

The Board granted an effective date of January 21, 2022, for the award of service connection for PTSD and a rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) effective December 20, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease (CAD), and right and left foot disabilities, including osteoarthritis, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee osteoarthritis prior to September 15, 2014, for an addendum retrospective opinion that complies with Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and back disability, preclude his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from March 19, 2025.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right foot disability, including consideration of bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent, but no higher, prior to March 17, 2017 for status post right thumb reconstructive surgery.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than May 26, 2016, for a separate rating for right knee instability and left knee instability. The claims for higher ratings based on limitation of motion and instability of the knees, separate ratings for meniscus conditions of the knees, and secondary service connection claims were remanded.

The Board granted restoration of a 40% rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee, effective July 1, 2009, and denied an increased rating in excess of 40% for the same condition as well as entitlement to TDIU.

The appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent from June 4, 2015, to July 12, 2022, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder was denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for multiple issues, including the disability ratings and TDIU claim.

The veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, but no higher, from December 26, 2017, for right lower extremity (RLE) sciatica.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 23, 2011 to May 10, 2022, excluding the period of full-time employment from August 5, 2021 to December 4, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, which includes Baker's cyst, strain, and degenerative arthritis.