Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act and denied service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and remanded claims for asthma, low back, neck condition, and tension headaches.

The Board granted service connection for various radiculopathies and cervical spine conditions, with effective dates of March 7, 2014, but no earlier, and June 23, 2014, but no earlier. It also granted an initial rating of 30 percent from March 7, 2014, for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and a 40 percent rating from June 23, 2014, for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected knees. The effective date for the grants of service connection and initial ratings are set at December 7, 2018, with some ratings increased.

The Board remands the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar degenerative arthritis to obtain additional evidence and clarify the ameliorative effects of medications on the Veteran's condition.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability and there was no credible evidence that any claimed condition began during or is related to active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted an increased rating to 40 percent, and no higher, as of May 4, 2021. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation at the '(l)' rate.

The Board remands the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for right knee degenerative arthritis, to include limitation of flexion, due to a pre-decisional error and to obtain a more adequate medical examination.

The Board granted an effective date of September 3, 2019 for the service connection claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, residuals of left foot surgery, scar of the left foot, painful scar of the left foot, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right knee disability to obtain an additional medical opinion with a thorough rationale, as the previous VA medical opinion was found inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for lower back disability, neck disability (cervicalgia), and persistent depressive disorder with cannabis use disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was denied.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis with L4-5 herniated disc and L2-3 osteophytes, as well as right knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease, to obtain a more adequate medical examination.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus. The claims for increased ratings for right hip degenerative arthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and service connection for radiculopathy were denied.

The Board granted restoration of the 40 percent rating for left arm, effective July 14, 2021, and denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent for radiculopathy right arm. The claim for an increased rating for cervical spine was remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, residual surgical scar of the right shoulder, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with depressive disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus and metatarsalgia, fracture of the left ankle, and residuals, fracture, left third metacarpal/long finger.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, and headaches. The Veteran was also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and 40 percent for status post ligament damage and acromioclavicular repair of the right shoulder with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease.

The appeal for service connection for left ankle strain, left hip osteoarthritis, and a left lower extremity condition was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine (back disability) is remanded due to a lack of adequate notice for a VA examination.

The Board granted a 50% rating for bilateral pes planus prior to April 12, 2021 and denied a higher rating from that date. It also granted an initial 30% rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis.