Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right and left knee patella tendon repairs, with painful motion, have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each. The instability in both knees has also been rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the condition was not incurred in or aggravated by service and did not have a direct link to a service-connected disability. The examiner concluded that the left knee osteoarthritis was less likely caused by the service-connected lumbosacral strain with herniated disc.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, herniated disc, IVDS and spinal stenosis is rated at 40 percent since August 19, 2020. The appeal period did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and major depressive disorder were granted, but the effective dates are denied.,Service connection was granted for a low back disability (degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis).,The Veteran's claim for lattice degeneration with atrophic holes is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left hand degenerative arthritis and status-post prosthetic replacement of the left second metacarpal proximal phalangeal joint space, finding that these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is due to his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied, as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied due to lack of evidence supporting a higher rating based on audiometric results. Service connection for hypertension and bilateral foot fungus are granted with effective dates from May 19, 2020, to August 9, 2022, respectively. The Veteran's claims for service connection regarding left knee pain (status post arthroscopy), right knee pain (status post arthroscopy), low back disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), left shoulder pain, and right shoulder pain are all granted with effective dates from August 10, 2022. The Veteran's claims for service connection regarding left leg shooting pain and radiculopathy secondary to low back disability and right leg shooting pain and radiculopathy secondary to low back disability remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded, as are the TBI claims.

Service connection is granted for left knee degenerative arthritis and migraine headaches.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis with degenerative arthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for cervical spine stenosis with disc protrusion.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, along with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective January 28, 2020, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on these conditions. Additionally, effective January 28, 2020, he is also granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in July 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis with instability was granted, with the effective date being June 1, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran exhibited slight instability in his left knee during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, an effective date earlier than December 27, 2023, for the award of service connection for service-connected right shoulder disabilities, and a higher initial evaluation for service-connected right shoulder disabilities are now pending.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the initial rating for right ankle arthritis and denied service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and instability due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent from September 23, 2014 to October 15, 2019. The appeal for an earlier effective date was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, and an increased disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine have been granted. The Veteran meets the current disability requirement and has met the in-service injury requirement with respect to her migraine headaches and major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Board found that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service, thus granting service connection for them.

The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD, an increased rating for right knee disability and shin splints, and entitlement to TDIU. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to these benefits prior to July 2, 2024.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, recurrent instability were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are set at February 6, 2023.,For TDIU, the claim was also denied as the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria.