Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder osteoarthritis and entitlement to a TDIU due to a duty to assist error regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on his disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and post traumatic osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, are granted with effective dates starting from August 12, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and strain, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain, and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy on a direct basis.,Service connection is also granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with strain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine, right lumbar sciatic radiculopathy, and left lumbar sciatic radiculopathy due to inadequate examination reports from February 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions are currently rated at 10 percent each, and the Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings.,PTSD was increased to a 50 percent rating effective May 8, 2024, but the Veteran seeks an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his back condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to consider the ameliorative effects of medication on his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations on several service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, but this decision is dismissed because it represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right foot, left foot, right knee, left knee, and back disabilities are granted. The initial rating for PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with disc degeneration has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee strain, and left knee strain. The conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right shoulder rotatory cuff tear with ACL joint osteoarthritis is denied as the evidence does not show that the additional service treatment records received in April 2014 were relevant to his original claim, and he did not file a timely appeal within one year after receiving the final February 2015 SOC.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee pain, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left foot disability due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The claims for headaches, lumbar back disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and no good cause for extension was presented.

The Veteran's back and left knee conditions are remanded for further development to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's left hip and left knee disabilities and his service-connected back disability. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to concurrent elections of review options.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A TDIU was granted as of October 16, 2020.

The appeal for service connection of a back condition, claimed as lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, is dismissed due to procedural error. The appeals for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and right hip condition are remanded.