Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for chronic laryngitis with hoarseness status post right true vocal cord polyp excision and remanded the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder degenerative arthritis other than post-traumatic with tendinosis.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain with osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the condition is related to service.

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 granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's left and right total knee replacements from their respective effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete evidence regarding functional loss during flareups and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and headaches, but denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral tinnitus disability and an acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for left eye glaucoma and denied increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee surgical scars. The claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and status post reconstructive surgery, as well as for bilateral hearing loss, were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and higher initial ratings for right ankle degenerative arthritis disability, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left and right knee strain disability, as well as a TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbar strain DDD and remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to a need for additional development.

The Board remands the claim for a low back disability to correct duty-to-assist errors that occurred prior to the August 2022 rating decision.

The Board granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis and an effective date of September 17, 2017, for DEA benefits.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to unavailable service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied entitlement to an evaluation more than 20 percent for a cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right heel spur, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to an upper back disability and plantar fasciitis, and sleep disturbances.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee disability with painful motion and degenerative arthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically the failure to provide a VA examination or opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The claims for service connection for an eye condition, vertigo/dizziness, GERD/reflux, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right wrist degenerative joint disease, left wrist degenerative joint disease, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, a right foot condition, a left foot condition, and a right achilles tendon/ankle condition were denied. The claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease/high blood pressure, sinusitis, headaches, allergic rhinitis, and a skin condition were remanded.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and thoracic spondylosis. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, was remanded.