Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that it is more likely than not related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for a right knee degenerative arthritis due to the Veteran's attorney withdrawing the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral flatfoot, moderate degenerative disc disease at L1-L2 and lower lumbar spine facet joint osteoarthritis, tinnitus, unspecified anxiety disorder, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, and sleep apnea, do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to the assigned effective dates have been denied as there is no legal basis to award an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for limitation of extension of the left knee has also been denied, with the earliest possible effective date being July 7, 2022.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 20 percent since December 4, 2019, is found to be less than the required for a higher rating due to limited range of motion.

The Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including osteoarthritis with meniscal tear, is dismissed because the appeal was found to be duplicative of an already pending appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, as well as the claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her lumbar spine disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee condition has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The appeal for service connection for OSA is dismissed. A 50 percent rating, but no higher, for right carpal tunnel syndrome, post-surgery, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand strain with tendinitis, and right hand tendinitis of the index finger are all related to his service-connected cervical strain with degenerative arthritis.,Service connection is granted for these conditions as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, right wrist, and ganglion cyst of the right wrist. The decision is based on new evidence that supports a finding of in-service onset.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis, cervical stenosis with hypertrophic arthropathy, and associated radiculopathy, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, hypothyroidism, gastritis and GERD, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis, right knee arthritis and shin splints have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.,Service connection for recurrent right shoulder disability (osteoarthritis) and recurrent left shoulder disability (osteoarthritis) is remanded as the evidence does not clearly establish their onset in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The RO failed in its duty to assist by not treating these as increased rating claims rather than service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to February 11, 2021 are dismissed as the issues remain pending in the Legacy system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and instability have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's lower back condition, claimed as lumbar disc herniation and degenerative arthritis, is found to be related to his active service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine anterior spinal fusion residuals, spondylosis, osteoarthritis, and a Schmorl's node is remanded due to the need for further VA examination.