Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, left knee, status-post meniscectomy, is granted a 60 percent rating effective April 1, 2021. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right shoulder condition, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and TBI residuals due to potential errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for total right elbow arthroplasty with degenerative arthritis is denied. A temporary 100 percent rating is granted from September 17, 2020 to September 16, 2021 and a 50 percent rating is denied thereafter. SMC(s) are granted from September 17, 2020 to September 16, 2021. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for left knee condition and degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability that began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The appeals for various disability ratings and benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the left ankle and bilateral plantar fasciitis with left foot degenerative arthritis and heel spur are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability, rated at 20 percent since November 2011, is restored to a rating of 20 percent effective September 26, 2024.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bronchiectasis are granted.

The Board has granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for right ankle residuals of medial malleolus/medial talus fracture, deltoid ligament sprain, lateral collateral ligament strain, and osteoarthritis from August 1, 2021.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction was dismissed as moot due to the AOJ's grant of the claim in full.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his cervical spine condition has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with right great toe hallux limitus; bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy; obstructive sleep apnea; cervical degenerative arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, and C4-C7 fusion; left shoulder strain; lumbar degenerative disc disease; right shoulder strain; right knee tendonitis; left knee tendonitis; painful right neck scar; tinnitus; right lower extremity polyneuropathy; and left lower extremity polyneuropathy render him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle osteoarthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, and right foot metatarsalgia.,Service connection is established based on direct evidence of the conditions in question.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for migraine headaches, lumbar strain, osteoarthritis of right hip, and osteoarthritis of left hip to his service-connected right knee disability. The decision is based on evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection and rating determinations have become moot.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died in October 2023 and no request for substitution was submitted within one year of his death.

The Veteran's claims for initial evaluations and earlier effective dates related to his right hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied as the evidence does not support an increase to a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, plantar fasciitis with heel exostoses/spur formation and osteoarthritis in the left foot, and plantar fasciitis with heel exostoses/spur formation and osteoarthritis in the right foot. The conditions are deemed to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, cervical strain, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine have been granted service connection. The claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.