Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and effective dates earlier than March 20, 2020 due to duty to assist errors and a request for a good cause extension of time limits.

The Veteran's TDIU for PTSD is granted effective April 1, 2020. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted from December 12, 2022 due to additional service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis was restored from 20 percent to 40 percent effective October 9, 2024.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral knee disability and hypertension due to a duty to assist error in prior VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis resulted in limited range of motion, with abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side. The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for lumbar spine disability is denied. The RO assigned the March 26, 2020 effective date based on receipt of his TDIU application, which was received in March 26, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee conditions have been dismissed due to a procedural defect in the filing of the appeal under the Modernized Appeals (AMA) system while a Legacy appeal was pending.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as back condition), sleep apnea, and unspecified trauma or stressor related disorder with anxious distress, depressed mood and panic attacks were denied. The Board found that new evidence was not relevant to the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome, and there is no presumptive service connection available for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as back condition) due to particulate matter and burn pits exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his back disability.

The appeals for various conditions, including foot issues, heart disease, diabetes, and migraines have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The initial non-compensable ratings assigned for the conditions are upheld.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder strain and rotator cuff tear with tendonitis and tenosynovitis, as well as for a lumbar disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine and scoliosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to his inability to perform multiple activities of daily living and a need for supervision based on symptoms or residuals of neurological impairment. The decision also requires an evaluation of whether participation in the PCAFC program would be in the best interest of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, which was rated at 100 percent from June 4, 2008 to October 4, 2015, is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to her having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination and to obtain SSA records. The claims will be reconsidered with these additional pieces of evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities (anxiety disorder, right knee osteoarthritis, etc.) preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, status post lumbosacral strain; radiculopathy, femoral nerve, left lower extremity; radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity; and tibial stress fracture status post strain, right knee are denied.

The Veteran's back disorder, BPH with LUTS, and cholecystectomy are all granted as service-connected. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service or in-service exposure.

The reduction in rating for degenerative arthritis of the right foot from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective May 1, 2020, was improper and the 30 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's hallux valgus of the right foot has been separately rated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral arm disabilities is remanded due to incomplete STRs from his Reserve service. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records and consider the evidence of record in its decision.