Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder, finding that his current disability is etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, along with associated radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as there was no new and relevant evidence to support the claims.,The Veteran's claim for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis was granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are related to service due to hard landings during deployment in Vietnam.,The Veteran's claim for right knee degenerative arthritis was also granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are related to service due to hard landings and activities as a crew member during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for left knee disability and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an examination of the Veteran's left knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the impact of medication on his symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, and TDIU was denied. The effective date of the increase in evaluation for bilateral pes planus is granted as December 21, 2011.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from October 16, 2009 is granted.,The initial rating claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis are dismissed as moot due to the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's left hand degenerative arthritis has been granted a 10 percent evaluation, effective February 8, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to an inadequate examination report from November 2020. The Board will schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess the current severity of his disability and provide updated range of motion measurements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities and for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to a duty to assist error in prior examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is granted, as his back disability had its onset in active military service.

The Veteran's left knee, left hip, and right hip degenerative arthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his hip conditions and neuropathy, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has determined that he is permanently housebound due to these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in calculating the recoupment of separation pay from the Veteran's VA disability compensation payments. The AOJ needs to conduct a paid and due audit to determine the proper amount of recoupment.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for frostbite with degenerative arthritis of both feet, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU. The remaining issues related to his knee conditions and PTSD are remanded for further development.