Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including claims for service connection and disability ratings.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service, including parachute jumps during service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of right and left knee joint osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the June 2022 VA opinion.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for left knee extension and a separate 10 percent rating for instability, while denying an increased rating for flexion.

The Board granted service connection for a right heel strain, neck disability, lower back disability, left shoulder disability, and right foot disability based on their etiological relation to in-service injuries.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and a compensable rating for various service-connected conditions, as well as remanded the claim for TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis, right lower radiculopathy, and tinnitus, and assigned a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine, while denying increased ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and hearing loss.

The Board granted an effective date of August 3, 2019, for the separate rating for left knee patellar instability and a 20 percent rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, but denied earlier effective dates for degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine, headaches, and TBI.

The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and a right ankle strain are remanded to obtain direct service connection opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right elbow disability and an increased evaluation for PTSD with OCD, and remanded claims for service connection for osteoarthritis involving multiple joints and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 24, 2023, and an effective date of May 12, 2022, for DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board granted restoration of a 40% rating for left ankle degenerative arthritis effective January 24, 2022, and denied an increased rating in excess of 40% from April 1, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the appeal for further development of evidence, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right elbow disability, the etiology of his skin condition, and the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for increased disability ratings, temporary total disability evaluation, and TDIU.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability without considering the ameliorative effects of any medication.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee disability with limitation of flexion effective July 12, 2012, and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine.