Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and remanded the claim for presbyopia due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and denied an initial compensable disability rating for tinea pedis of the right foot.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the assignment of a separate rating for right knee dislocated cartilage, and denied entitlement to a separate rating for lateral instability of the right knee under Diagnostic Code 5257. However, it granted a separate 10 percent rating for slight lateral instability of the right knee from November 30, 2020, through December 9, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral nervous system pain, to include rheumatoid arthritis, and granted an effective date of October 6, 2014, for the grant of service connection for left calf and left thumb scars. The remaining claims were denied.

The Board granted an effective date of August 21, 1995, for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia, service connection for hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease, as additional evidence has been submitted outside the allowed time frame.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for right knee limitation of extension, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, and service connection for a respiratory condition due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement.

The Board remands the claims for initial compensable ratings of degenerative arthritis in the right fingers due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of July 16, 2008, for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, diagnosed as status post left knee meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis in the left knee, finding that it had its onset during active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and an earlier effective date, as well as a higher rating for hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right wrist, left shoulder, left foot, and lumbar spine disorders based on their onset during active duty.

The Board granted annual clothing allowances for right and left knee braces and a back brace, but denied allowances for capsaicin cream and Voltaren topical medications.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and a bilateral hearing loss disability, while denying increased ratings for several conditions including GERD, right wrist CTS, left wrist CTS, right knee strain, left knee strain, right shin splint with MTSS, and left shin splint with MTSS. The Board also granted separate ratings of 30 percent, 20 percent, 40 percent, and 10 percent for neurological impairment of the right median nerve associated with CTS, lumbar degenerative arthritis with spondylosis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, respectively.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while the other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted special monthly compensation for loss of use of the right foot and aid and attendance, and restored a 60 percent disability rating for back disability effective April 17, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for Sunscreen SPF 30 as there is no evidence that he was prescribed sunscreen for a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition and left leg radiculopathy, finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.