Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and right heel spurs with plantar fasciitis, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee strain, and right knee strain based on evidence that each condition was as likely as not due to in-service parachute jumps.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left shoulder strain, degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disorder, resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for sinusitis with sinus headaches and remanded several other issues, including increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis conditions, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with sprain but denied service connection for right knee arthritis with strain.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and a rating of 50 percent, but no higher, for migraine headaches prior to April 13, 2021, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, cervicogenic headaches, right wrist sprain, left elbow disability, right knee degenerative arthritis and right knee strain, and left knee strain. However, it denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and remanded claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, right forearm carpal tunnel syndrome, left forearm CTS, a right elbow disability, and a left wrist disability.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for peripheral nephropathy, right foot associated with right foot strain and a 50 percent rating for hysterectomy. The claims for a compensable rating for miscarriage and an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and right shoulder disorder based on the Veteran's in-service symptoms and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board granted increased ratings for left and right knee instability, but denied increased ratings for left and right knee limitation of flexion.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including a new VA examination to address the nature and severity of the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, including degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and compression fracture at L2, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, and tension headaches. The cervical strain rating was remanded.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS is dismissed as it has been subsumed by a previous remand.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 23, 2019.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a left knee disability, including as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee strain, but granted a 40 percent rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from January 31, 2019.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, humeroscapular osteoarthritis, and clavicle fracture but granted a separate 10 percent rating for malunion of the clavicle.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's left and right knee instability, as well as a 20% disability rating for erectile dysfunction. Other claims were denied.