Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for right hip osteoarthritis with avascular necrosis and denied higher ratings or compensable ratings for the other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for vertebral fractures at L3, L4, and L5, lumbar degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and lumbar IVDS but denied an effective date prior to August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for chronic kidney disease.

The Board remands the issues related to the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities for another attempt to schedule a VA examination due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled examinations without good cause.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and right foot condition, but remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 28, 2018, and in excess of 40 percent on and after December 28, 2018, for right shoulder degenerative arthritis; an effective date prior to December 28, 2018, for the award of a 40 percent rating for right shoulder degenerative arthritis; and a rating in excess of 20 percent for right humeral fracture residuals without complete union for additional development.

The Board grants service connection for a left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis, chondromalacia, and meniscus tear, based on the evidence showing current diagnoses and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent, but granted a 10 percent rating for left hip flexion limitation and right hip flexion limitation.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for the back disability prior to March 10, 2022, and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent as of that date. For the left lower extremity radiculopathy, it granted an initial 20 percent rating prior to June 18, 2024, and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent as of that date.

The Board denied increased ratings for the service-connected left total knee replacement, right knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee instability.

The appeals for increased ratings and other claims were dismissed as moot or not meeting the criteria.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and denied increased ratings for multiple conditions, including left ear hearing loss, cervical spine arthritis with degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The Board also remanded service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and a back disability, but denied service connection for BPPV. The right lumbar radiculopathy was also granted as secondary to the back disability.

The Board granted service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity as secondary to degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, increased the rating for PTSD from 50 percent to 70 percent from September 1, 2017 to July 8, 2019, granted TDIU effective January 1, 2014, and awarded SMC based on housebound status effective September 1, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, osteoarthritis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease with instability and limitation of flexion.

The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was dismissed as a matter of law. The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound was granted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and lipoma of the low back due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability and restored the 40 percent rating, effective February 1, 2025. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the service-connected major (dominant) right wrist disability and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the right hand due to the service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board granted an effective date of May 28, 2021 for the award of service connection for multiple conditions including cervical spine stenosis, right and left knee strains, and right and left hip osteoarthritis.