Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis, OSA, left thumb pain, left index finger pain, left long finger pain, and left ring and little finger pain are all rated at 50 percent. The lumbar spine disability is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the conditions prior to August 4, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for his back disability is being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 6, 2018 for a 50 percent evaluation for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and remands for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional evaluations and opinions regarding his migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder condition, including degenerative arthritis and residuals of right rotator cuff repair due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The case is now pending for further review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, right knee, with meniscal tear.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding continuity of symptomatology since separation from service. The Veteran is asked to provide any VA treatment records he may have.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2020 VA examination, which did not include estimated range of motion measurements considering functional loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis, is related to his service-connected right pectoral tear residuals. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in 2020 was denied because shoes, which are not classified as articles of clothing by VA, were used due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the use of open-back shoes did not qualify under the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.810(a).

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS is rated at 40 percent, effective as of the date of this decision.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is rated at 30 percent, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right knee instability are denied.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for cervical spine disability remains at 10 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2020 VA examination, which did not include estimated range of motion measurements considering functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right great toe disability and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, status post fusion with strain and mild disc bulges. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation in any of these cases.

The appeals for effective date prior to April 4, 2017 for TDIU and higher extraschedular ratings for left foot pes planus and left ankle injury residuals are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal for increased ratings for cervical degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and cervicalgia, as well as cervical radiculopathy of the upper left extremity, is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.