Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with postoperative meniscal tear was granted an increased rating from 10 percent to 40 percent, but no higher, effective May 18, 2016. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for back pain, right knee instability/pain, and a bilateral hip condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of motion during flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability, as well as a TDIU from October 28, 2011, to February 23, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and a 20 percent rating for erectile dysfunction, while denying an increased compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's right lower extremity scars and remanded an increased rating claim for his service-connected right ankle condition.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for various conditions and denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and a vestibular disorder. An initial rating of 10 percent was granted for right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee degenerative arthritis due to a need for an addendum opinion that discounts any ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disability and sciatica due to a duty to assist error, requiring an adequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder and right ear hearing loss, but denied an increased rating for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, finding it to be proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The appeal for initial disability ratings for various knee conditions and an adjustment disorder was withdrawn by the Veteran, leading to the dismissal of these claims. The Board granted a 50% rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine associated with left knee chondromalacia patella with limited flexion and a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for cervical neck degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disorder is related to his active duty experiences.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent disability evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bulging cervical discs to include degenerative arthritis and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma, leukocytosis, and liver condition but granted reinstatement of a 40% rating for right and left knee limitations of extension effective November 1, 2024.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches and a TDIU, while denying increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's passing in November 2024.

The Board remands the claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for right knee osteoarthritis/degenerative tear of the lateral meniscus due to an inadequate examination report and a need to assess the ameliorative effects of pain medication.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected acromioclavicular (AC) joint osteoarthritis of the left shoulder and right knee osteoarthritis, but granted a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion in the right knee starting July 6, 2023, and a 20 percent rating for limitation of extension in the right knee from October 20, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, a left foot disability, and a lumbar spine disability.