Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's left wrist disability is rated at 20 percent effective August 29, 2013. His earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is granted as March 6, 2013. The claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, sleep apnea, right knee disability, and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder have been denied. The Board has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran does not currently meet the criteria for service connection as his left ear hearing loss is not shown by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the claims of service connection for arthritis in the hands or fingers, knees, and shoulders.

The Veteran's right big toe osteoarthritis of the MTP joint has been granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective from when the claim was filed. A separate noncompensable rating for a scar on the right big toe status post fusion of the right first MTP joint is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hips, knees, shoulders, and IBS are granted. The claim for persistent fatigue was denied. An initial 70 percent rating is granted for unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left elbow disability, and left shoulder disability on a direct basis. The reasonable doubt in each case has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to June 5, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which was granted for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claim for irritable bowel syndrome was granted. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, vertebral fracture, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, is not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by instability and early arthritis, is granted a 20% evaluation from December 29, 2017 to February 17, 2021, and full rating (100%) from April 1, 2021.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance at the 38 U.S.C. � 1114(n 1/2) rate, but no higher, prior to January 25, 2019 and from March 1, 2019, due to his service-connected depressive disorder alone causing him to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his bilateral foot disability and ankle disabilities are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left knee instability and limitation of flexion due to inadequate evidence in the prior examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder and a right foot disorder due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and failing to conduct a VA examination as required by law.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The issues are being returned to the AOJ for further development of the record.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated disc, and multi-level spondylosis. The Board found that the Veteran's current disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use resulting from his disabilities.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and a deferred issue of vertigo.