Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to November 7, 2002, for service-connected spondylolisthesis and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, bilateral spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and left and right shoulder trapezius muscle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment prior to June 14, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability, as secondary to a service-connected neck disability, due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the appeal for further development, including verification of periods of service and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected peripheral vestibular disorder from December 13, 2020, to September 25, 2023, an earlier effective date of December 13, 2020, for the establishment of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from April 13, 2023, to September 25, 2023.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for increased ratings of various knee and toe conditions, as well as associated scars.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees as there was no evidence that these conditions began during active service, were manifest to a compensable degree within one year following service discharge, or were otherwise related to an injury, event, or disease in service.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, thoracolumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for left hip iliotibial band syndrome, right hip iliotibial band syndrome, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the left hip condition.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 22, 2023, for the award of service connection and increased ratings for right and left lower extremity neuropathy. The claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease was readjudicated, and a higher initial disability rating was assigned. The appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability with limitation of extension and instability, as well as a TDIU claim, to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing secondary service connection.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include knee joint osteoarthritis and instability, due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and missing service treatment records.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder, labral tear, including SLAP (superior labral anterior-posterior lesion), glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial disability ratings and effective dates related to various conditions, including lumbar spine, sciatic and femoral radiculopathy, and major depressive disorder. The decision also granted a 60 percent rating for left knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2016.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for an opiate dependency disorder is dismissed, and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. Several other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 4, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for lumbar spine disability, an initial compensable rating for right knee limitation of flexion, an initial compensable rating for left knee limitation of flexion, effective dates prior to March 4, 2021, for separate ratings for left and right knee limitations of flexion, and a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty to assist errors.