Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The reduction of the rating for left knee degenerative arthritis from 20% to 10%, effective November 3, 2021, was improper and restored the original 20% rating.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and left shoulder glenohumeral arthritis are granted service connection, while the right knee condition is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied eligibility for attorney fees as the June 2024 TDIU decision was not an initial decision on service connection claims, but rather a determination of unemployability based on previously granted conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is being remanded for further adjudication.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because his requests to appeal were not timely filed, and he did not provide good cause for the delay.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain an updated VA examination for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it had its onset during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis with distal femur fracture is being remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examination report and lack of consideration of evidence submitted after the initial decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee arthroplasty, but dismissed the claim of left hip degenerative arthritis as moot due to a full grant of benefits.

The Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and breathing condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and right hand constant pain. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis and knee instability is dismissed.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, meniscal tear, and chondromalacia patella, finding that the Veteran's claim was not entitled to such a retroactive effective date due to lack of new and material evidence submitted within one year of the February 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent respiratory disability (asthma) and recurrent right knee disability (osteoarthritis) are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his military service records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not show that his claimed conditions began in service or were causally related to service. The Board also found that he was not unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service injury during a drill weekend in 1984. The benefit of doubt was resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right hand strain, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on the Veteran's military occupational specialty tasks that led to his current conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial 40 percent rating from May 14, 2012 to December 25, 2019.,From December 26, 2019, forward, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine alone renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for TDIU. The Veteran also has a separate disability (depressive disorder) rated at 70 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including epilepsy, prostate cancer, and lumbar DDD, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance from his spouse. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.