Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and back disorders due to outstanding private treatment records not obtained. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his awards of ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis based on limitation of extension. The evidence did not show a compensable limitation of extension prior to February 6, 2025.

The Board has dismissed the duplicative appeals for service connection of various knee, foot, and ankle conditions due to a resubmitted VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and will remand the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is March 1, 2007.,However, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy claim remains pending and requires further review to determine its effective date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as his current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The appeals are either not granted or the maximum rating has already been assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his accidental drowning death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and residuals of head injuries and concussions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a duty to assist error, requiring new VA examinations for the appellant's left carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee bursitis, granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bronchitis with emphysema and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain of the lumbar spine due to an error in failing to address VA's duty to assist by obtaining records held by a Federal department or agency.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board found the evidence persuasive against finding that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis, and cervical spondylosis with IVDS, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 29, 2020. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC housebound.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and manage his daily medications. The Board has granted entitlement to SMC(l).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the evaluation of her left knee and foot disabilities. The VA examinations are inadequate as they did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, lumbar retrolisthesis, a vertebral fracture, and DDD (back disability), as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the back disability. The decision is based on evidence showing an in-service fall causing a back injury that led to current diagnoses.