Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development, including the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is related to service-connected chondromalacia and proximal patellar tendinosis of the left knee. The Board also needs another VA medical opinion addressing chronic presumptions and direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service, but there is no persuasive medical evidence linking his current tinnitus to this exposure.,Service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis with strain and thoracolumbar sprain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS has been denied as there is no persuasive medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including meniscal tear (surgically repaired), osteoarthritis, and lateral collateral ligament strain, is related to service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

An increased rating to 50 percent disabling for bilateral plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia with osteoarthritis is granted effective August 21, 2019.,A compensable rating for left knee limitation of extension prior to August 15, 2022 is denied.,A separate rating for right knee genu recurvatum under DC 5263 from August 21, 2019 is granted.,An earlier effective date for service connection for right knee peroneal nerve condition prior to August 15, 2022 is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for TMJ disability has been granted at a 30 percent level, effective from April 22, 2023. The criteria for an initial 30 percent rating have been met based on the interincisal range of 21 to 29 mm and dietary restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of prostate cancer was dismissed. His bilateral hearing loss disability and IVDS to include degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine were granted with a rating of 40 percent prior to February 11, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the Veteran's left knee disability history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of back, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset in service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development due to the need for a new VA medical examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability, discounting the ameliorative effects of medications.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is causally related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) other than intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, s/p cervical laminectomy. The decision is based on credible evidence that the disabilities had their onset in service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim, including extraschedular consideration, is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The case should be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (neck disability) as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis, and the associated upper extremity radiculopathy symptoms were separately rated.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as he withdrew his appeal with respect to all the issues.

The Board has restored service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and posterior trunk scars, as these conditions were in effect for over 10 years when they were severed. The original grants of service connection were not based on fraud or due to a character of discharge issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining relevant medical records and conducting adequate VA examinations.