Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, osteoarthritis right knee, and osteoarthritis left knee due to untimely filing of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be incurred during a period of active service or secondary to his service-connected cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome.,The Board determined that the evidence did not support finding that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine conditions, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were incurred during a period of active service or secondary to his service-connected cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative arthritis with herniated discs and right knee degenerative joint disease with total arthroplasty are denied. The maximum rating of 40 percent is assigned for the lumbar condition, and a 60 percent rating is assigned for the right knee condition after January 27, 2023.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right knee disorders and instability due to inadequate examination reports in prior decisions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, which is secondary to her service-connected breast cancer.

The Veteran's claims for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left knee disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted with effective dates of November 21, 2019. The Veteran is now service-connected for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar and neck conditions on a direct basis, finding that the current conditions are not causally related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right Achilles tendonitis and degenerative arthritis have all been denied.,No current disabilities were found in the record to support these service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as he did not have unfavorable ankylosis.,Service connection for an ear infection was also denied because there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 15, 2021 for the award of service connection for low back degenerative arthritis and pain, status post partial laminectomy with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with instability is rated at 20 percent effective May 5, 2023.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease, cervical spondylosis and degenerative arthritis, and hemorrhoids are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's right shoulder condition, cervical spine condition, and hemorrhoids due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the November 2024 rating decision did not address the earlier effective dates for the ratings assigned for the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability, and the December 2024 Notice of Disagreement only addressed these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and has remanded the issue of service connection for a recurrent left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and bulging disc, but the claim for secondary service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied effective dates prior to March 23, 2022, for the awards of a 50 percent rating for right knee disability based on limitation of motion and a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to untimely filings. The Board also found the AOJ decisions on kidney stones and gastrointestinal symptoms insufficient, requiring further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis with spinal fusion and congenital lumbar stenosis is granted an increased initial rating of 40 percent, effective May 15, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis secondary to his right wrist injury during active duty is being remanded due to a lack of sufficient rationale in the January 2024 VA examination.