Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a right foot condition, including hallux rigidus with degenerative arthritis, based on the Veteran's credible assertions of continuous symptoms since active duty and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU, finding that his symptoms of major depressive disorder and right knee osteoarthritis did not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board denied the claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new evidence did not support the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including trauma- and stressor-related disorder, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, knee disabilities, and scars.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right hip disability and remanded claims for service connection for bilateral pseudophakia with epiretinal membrane in the left eye, right knee osteoarthritis status post replacement (arthroplasty), and readjudication of the claims for service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right, left knee conditions and back pain as the evidence did not support that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date of March 30, 1978, for service connection for lumbosacral strain and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to address the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's right shoulder condition.

The Board denied service connection for various degenerative arthritis and impingement syndrome conditions of the Veteran's left foot, right foot, left hand, right hand, left knee, right knee, right ankle, left shoulder, and right shoulder, as there was no evidence that these conditions were caused by or incurred in service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for migraines as secondary to tinnitus, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and GERD as secondary to the left fifth finger condition. The extraschedular evaluation for the left fifth finger was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and granted a 30 percent rating, but not higher, for GERD. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left ankle, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left foot drop, and other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied a higher initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee.

The Board granted increased initial ratings of 20 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis and 10 percent for a painful residual scar on the dorsal surface of the left foot, status post bone removal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his unspecified depressive disorder was denied, but he was granted individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis with anterior cruciate ligament tear, status post-surgery.

The Board remands the claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine with a left-sided L5-S1 herniated disc and post-operative lumbar spine degenerative joint disease to correct a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist.

The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication.