Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

Service connection for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands and asthma have been denied.,The Veteran's nonischemic cardiomyopathy claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's back condition and stroke were granted service connection, with the back condition receiving a 40% rating effective January 4, 2024. The Veteran's stroke received a 100% rating effective April 15, 2024, and a 10% rating effective November 1, 2024. Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate was also granted from April 15, 2024 to October 31, 2024.

The Board found that severance of service connection for a back disability in the April 1984 rating decision was not clear and unmistakable error, thus denying an effective date prior to March 19, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for COPD prior to October 21, 2024, and a higher rating from that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating at any time during this period. For the period after October 21, 2024, the Veteran's COPD is rated as 30 percent disabling. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of aid and attendance, as he requires assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, medication management, and housekeeping/laundry due to his TBI, PTSD, OSA, headaches, lumbar spine disability, arthritis, and severe chronic back pain. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis with meniscus and ligament injuries, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain, finding that it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to migraines and bilateral cataracts with primary open angle glaucoma and vitreous floaters prior to February 13, 2025 is dismissed due to previous adjudications.,The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for left knee and right knee disabilities are dismissed due to previous adjudications.,The Veteran's appeal of the TDIU claim prior to June 11, 2024 is dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased disability rating for a right ankle condition is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for DEA is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of service connection for cardiomyopathy with supraventricular arrhythmia is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further evaluation due to an inadequate opinion in the previous VA examination, which did not consider the effects of his service-connected disabilities on his mobility and ability to be physically active.

The Veteran's claims for right knee degenerative arthritis, bilateral shin splints, GERD, and bone spurs of the right and left toes were denied. An initial 10 percent rating was granted prior to August 14, 2024, for right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right lower extremity (RLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is dismissed. Service connection is granted for insomnia, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and nerve damage to both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform activities of daily living. The claim is remanded to determine if participation in the PCAFC program would be in the Veteran's best interest.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition due to or aggravated by service-connected left and right ankle conditions, as well as service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to or aggravated by the same back condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection, finding that good cause was not shown to extend the appeal period. The Veteran did not timely file her Board Appeal requests.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether his neck disability was caused by or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.