Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, left knee condition, and right ankle conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological condition (carpal tunnel syndrome) is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, alcohol use disorder, right and left knee osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were granted, but the effective dates are limited to March 27, 2024. The right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's neck disability and upper extremity radiculopathy were evaluated, but the VA determined that none of the conditions warranted a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a left knee condition to include a left knee strain, degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining post-service treatment records and failing to provide proper notification of attempts to obtain those records.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted service connection. The claims for hyperlipidemia, lower left and right radiculopathy, heart issues (likely including atrial fibrillation), hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus with chronic pain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the current condition was not incurred in or related to service and did not meet any presumptive criteria.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or a link to service.,The Veteran's left ankle condition is denied due to lack of in-service onset and insufficient evidence linking the current diagnosis to service.,The Veteran's right ankle condition is denied for similar reasons.,PTSD is granted with an effective date of May 23, 2021.,Right hip conditions are granted with effective dates of August 6, 2020.,A 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss has an effective date of July 26, 2022.,Hypertension is granted with an effective date of May 23, 2021.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The Board also remands two issues related to right knee plica syndrome with limitation of extension and flexion, as there was a duty to assist error prior to the December 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left foot degenerative arthritis and back lumbar DDD have been granted.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but remanded the claim for service connection of a right hip disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a higher rating of 40 percent, effective from the date of the claim. The other issues are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. The claims for left knee and right knee osteoarthritis are both denied.

The Veteran's right foot degenerative arthritis is rated at 10% and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating of his right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied, as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the initial decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits was legally inadequate due to insufficient notice and a lack of an adequate medical opinion. The case is being remanded to address these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability as there was no new and relevant evidence received to readjudicate the case, which had been previously denied in an August 2024 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is eligible for enrollment in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) based on his service-connected conditions. However, due to a legal inadequacy and the need for a more detailed medical opinion, the case must be remanded.