Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches effective June 12, 2019. Other claims were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with right foot degenerative arthritis, and left, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, to include osteoarthritis with bursitis and strain, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not support a positive nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current shoulder conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses the Veteran's lay statements and the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and remanded the claim for a heart disability, while denying service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, but remanded claims for left and right hip conditions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether it is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy to schedule a VA examination.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, with PTSD; a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar spine disability); and initial ratings of 40 percent each for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, a 20 percent rating or higher for the same condition, and any other initial ratings for the right knee disability under other Diagnostic Codes pertaining to the knee and leg. A 10 percent rating was granted for allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that the criteria for a higher rating were met or approximated.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and left arm disabilities to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and left knee osteoarthritis, but granted service connection for right knee condition and right elbow lateral epicondylitis based on new evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis to afford the Veteran a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for the right knee disability under Diagnostic Code 5259, effective August 15, 2016, and denied other claims related to service connection and ratings for the right knee.

The Board remands the claim for a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as the VA examiners' opinions relied on erroneous information and did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his post-service symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and secondary service connections for insomnia / sleep problems, headache disorder, and RIGHT knee osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae of the skin was denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities from November 2, 2006, but denied a higher rating for lumbar spine strain with mild osteoarthritis and mild stenosis. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from November 2, 2006.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right hip disabilities and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.