Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to lumbar spine DDD and spinal stenosis with right neural foraminal narrowing at L5-S1, finding no current diagnosis of ED.,The Board also denied service connection for left knee strain as secondary to lumbar spine DDD and spinal stenosis with right neural foraminal narrowing at L5-S1, concluding that the condition did not begin in service or be related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right elbow tendinopathy and degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, and left ankle disabilities have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's attorney.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the left and right hands, and penile condition have all been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service treatment records are silent for any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions. Post-service VA treatment records also do not indicate any such issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and osteoarthritis of the left thumb have been granted. The Board has added a claim for respiratory disability, to include asthma, due to its overlap with the initial claim. Service connection is also remanded for left elbow disability.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the (n) rate effective November 9, 2020, based on a combination of service-connected conditions that independently reach or exceed 50% disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disabilities, including osteoarthritis resulting in left hip replacement surgery, are service-connected as they are at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his foot and knee disabilities, as well as their relationship to service. The AOJ must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected knee and shoulder disabilities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis and spinal fusion is being remanded due to the Board's September 2024 decision, which relied on inadequate medical examinations from January 2021 and April 2021. The case will be remanded to obtain a new, adequate examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right hand condition due to a lack of adequate medical opinions in the original decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at zero percent, as the VA examinations did not show any exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.,Both his right knee strain and cervical strain are currently rated at ten percent. The Board has remanded these issues for additional examination to consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran was granted an increased initial disability rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, effective prior to August 8, 2023. The decision is based on the VA examination report and consideration of medication effects.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, back, and neck disabilities but denied hepatitis C. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses are less likely related to his in-service injuries.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right hip joint osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are caused by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a rating more than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee status-post arthroscopy meniscus repair with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 10 percent disability rating based on recurrent subluxation or instability, under DC 5257, and a separate 10 percent disability rating based on limitation of flexion, under DC 5260.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand degenerative arthritis and left foot disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his active service.

The appeal for the reduction of the left knee disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable is dismissed as the Board already restored the 10 percent evaluation in a previous decision.