Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his disability rating decision, finding that the appeal was untimely filed and no good cause for extension was provided.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability, to include pain and osteoarthritis (OA), and bilateral flatfoot disability. The evidence does not support the claim that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection for IVDS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and bilateral knee osteoarthritis is granted. Secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition as secondary to these conditions is also granted. The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, to include mild disc herniation T5 to T11, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, and spinal stenosis. Additionally, the Board requested an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities aggravated his back condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis with sacroiliitis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted effective October 14, 2008. The issues of TDIU and DEA are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate VA examination, specifically regarding range of motion testing for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The Veteran will need another VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent right hip injury residuals with osteoarthritis, recurrent left hip injury residuals including osteoarthritis and total hip replacement residuals, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbosacral spine osteoarthritis. The diagnoses are related to the Veteran's in-service aircraft accident.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment prior to July 12, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee condition, disability manifested by joint pain (claimed as polyarthritis), and low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left wrist osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential secondary service connection via aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The Veteran's service records indicate chronic pain in his left hand, including during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that it is due to his active duty service and wear and tear during deployment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 23, 2019. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective October 2, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is granted a 20 percent rating prior to July 15, 2019 and a 40 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, insomnia disorder, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbosacral strain, labyrinthitis with paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

VA has granted service connection for GERD effective July 22, 2009. The Veteran's claims for asthma, left shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability were reopened based on new evidence submitted in May 2023.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 20% disability rating for lumbar radiculopathy, but denied higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and a compensable disability rating for the lumbar trunk scar.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted as service connection due to a current diagnosis and in-service treatment records.,Service connection for depression and anxiety, also claimed as somatic symptom disorder, is remanded due to the need for a VA medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including residuals of a 1994 in-service fall with resulting right leg injury, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.