Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow lateral epicondylitis and osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and DDD other than IVDS of the neck and low back condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent right knee disability, recurrent left knee disability, and recurrent urinary disability due to new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the evaluation for right knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion) effective December 8, 2025. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and TDIU are being remanded due to missing medical records from Dr. Miller.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip conditions were denied, and the effective date was not earlier than December 31, 2024.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient examination and lack of consideration of functional loss due to pain, weakness, excess fatigability, incoordination, flare-ups, and medication effects.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for retroactive compensation from December 1, 2008, to November 14, 2022, as VA properly calculated his combined disability evaluations and there is no unpaid compensation due.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was reduced from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating effective December 12, 2024. The appeal for restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disabilities, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether these conditions were incurred during her reserve service.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis disability is rated at a 20 percent since December 31, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury and granting a rating of 100%.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to the absence of a decision addressing tinnitus. The issues of hypertension, sinus condition, bilateral eye condition, right wrist disability, and bilateral hand, arm, elbow, and shoulder disabilities were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for additional evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Appellant did not respond to a letter advising her of an error in docketing her appeal and she had not yet been substituted as the claimant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, right knee disability, tonsillectomy, and uvulectomy. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and he cannot receive a higher rating. His claim for restless leg syndrome was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of the assigned evaluations for various lower extremity radiculopathies and a lumbar spine disability have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of those issues at her hearing.

The Veteran's status-post amputation, right fourth toe and bilateral pes planus are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral degenerative arthritis of the feet with calcaneal spurs is also granted service connection as aggravated by his service-connected status-post amputation, right fourth toe. However, the claims for testicular hernia and testicular cancer remain pending due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's back spasms are granted as secondary to his service-connected left and right knee conditions, and he is awarded a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee.