Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Veteran's earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA was granted, while the knee extension ratings were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and left hip arthritis due to an error by the agency of original jurisdiction in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Board remands the claim for a left-hand disability, to include numbness and degenerative arthritis, as the VA examination provided is found inadequate.

The appeal for service connection for a disability manifested by difficulty breathing was dismissed as the issue has been fully granted.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied increased ratings for left knee strain, right hand little (5th) finger fracture, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for radiculopathy and additional upper extremity conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and left knee strain to correct a duty to assist error related to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and various ratings, as new evidence was not found to be relevant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, as well as an initial compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity as secondary to cervical strain, an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis effective from November 26, 2019, and a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine effective from November 26, 2018.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his appeal for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Education Assistance.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, also referred to as low back condition, due to a need for additional development.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the right knee, effective August 2, 2017, but denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with joint osteoarthritis.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain, right knee scar, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee. However, a 60 percent evaluation was granted for the right total knee replacement effective July 24, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups, Raynaud's phenomena, and anemia.

The Board remands the claim for a left lower extremity condition, to include a left gluteal muscle condition, for further development including obtaining SSA records and new VA examinations.

The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with adjustment disorder and depressed mood is granted a rating of 50 percent, while his bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left hips, as well as degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of frostbite in the feet, and non-compensable evaluations for allergic rhinitis, headache disability, and right hand fifth finger injury. The claims for coronary artery disease, a skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability, service connection for a neck disability, service connection for a right knee disability, and service connection for hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder with panic attack features, asthma, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee based on evidence showing these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's active duty military service.