Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation, as well as DEA benefits, due to no evidence of a claim being filed within one year of separation from service.

The Board granted service connection for left elbow osteoarthritis, right elbow osteoarthritis, and right shoulder torn rotator cuff as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The rating was restored from 20% to 30%, and a 40% disability rating for the right shoulder condition was granted.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to an inadequate examination.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed, while the appeals for peroneal neuritis and increased evaluation for right foot plantar fasciitis were granted. The issues related to osteoarthritis and pes cavus were remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability and a 50 percent rating for his migraine headaches, effective July 24, 2019.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted an effective date of July 13, 2022, for the grant of service connection for a left hip total joint replacement and a left hip scar, but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee, for an addendum opinion.

The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left iliotibial band friction syndrome (claimed as left knee injury) was dismissed due to a concurrent election error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for obstructive sleep apnea which was granted, and granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claim for a left hip disability as secondary to service-connected conditions due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, Meniere's syndrome, gynecological condition, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's back disability is granted an initial rating of 40 percent, but not higher. The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate, effective May 22, 2023.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for earlier effective dates for the separate ratings of sciatic and femoral nerve radiculopathy were denied, as well as the remanded claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, finding that June 29, 2021, was the earliest possible date of claim.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis, but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for the other conditions.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent disability rating for his left ankle degenerative arthritis from July 1, 2023, to April 5, 2024, but the claim for a compensable disability rating for surgical scars was denied.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an initial evaluation of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain.