Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The veteran was granted a 70 percent initial rating for somatic symptom disorder, and a 20 percent initial rating for intervertebral disc syndrome lumbosacral spine. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, due to an inadequate VA examination and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee strain (chronic left knee pain), and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease (CAD), and impotency/erectile dysfunction, all from March 14, 2014.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cervical intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis status post arthrodesis was granted, and the veteran was awarded a TDIU effective January 11, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbosacral strain and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, left knee degenerative arthritis, and degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, including left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee tendinopathy, left knee tendinopathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and plantar fasciitis in both feet.

The Board granted service connection for right knee disability, including strain and osteoarthritis, but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and an earlier effective date of March 17, 2017, for the award of Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis, a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for prostatitis.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, as well as a reopened claim for tinnitus, among other issues.

The veteran withdrew all remaining appeals for service connection for various recurrent disabilities claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure.

The appeal was denied for an extended temporary total rating, but the 30 percent rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis was restored. The Board remanded claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus II as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, spinal fusion of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left ankle. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to a back injury sustained during ACDUTRA in September 1988.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating, but not higher, for left knee disability, dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for left knee degenerative arthritis and scars, denied a higher rating for the same conditions, granted a separate disability rating for instability, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted it for tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, based on the Veteran's credible lay statements and medical evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for further medical opinions.