Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and to address the Veteran's claim for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle pain/arthritis due to a lack of an opinion addressing causation and aggravation, as well as gait-related issues. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Cervical Spine Disability as the earliest possible effective date is June 6, 2016, which is later than when entitlement arose. The Veteran's claims were not filed within one year of a final denial in July 25, 2013.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral. The Veteran's claims are also granted for a 60 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, effective February 22, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back conditions and her service connection claim. The VA will obtain a new opinion from a qualified examiner.

The Veteran's disability rating for her service-connected lumbar spine disability is restored to 40 percent effective April 1, 2025. The remaining issues of increased ratings are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and RLE sciatic radiculopathy. The Veteran's symptoms have been present since his military service.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and RLE sciatic radiculopathy as these conditions are considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to address the etiology of his genitourinary disability, claimed as prostate cancer. The Veteran also has an ongoing left hip osteoarthritis with hip replacement that requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's left ankle, wrist, thumb, and elbow conditions are granted service connection. The GERD is also granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status as he does not have a single disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%, nor is he permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is remanded due to a duty to assist error in the initial decision.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 17, 2024 for a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis and regional myofascial pain syndrome with residual shooting pain in the left hand spasm and hand closure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered them unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted their TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, and thyroid condition, all secondary to ionizing radiation exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine, thoracolumbar spine, and heart conditions have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee ligament tear with degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease of hips and great toes, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various ankle and knee disorders, as well as hypertension and sleep apnea due to a duty to assist omission regarding missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination reports.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination reports.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2019 VA medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded based on new military personnel records showing his deployment to Panama and Honduras.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports related to ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports related to ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination report.