Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as right and left hip degenerative arthritis. The conditions are deemed to have started in service based on the Veteran's testimony of pain during military activities.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee. The Veteran's complaints of joint pain were noted during service and continued post-service, with diagnoses provided in both settings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, left hip osteoarthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's motions to revise final rating decisions that did not assign separate ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and assigned a 10% rating for shoulder degenerative arthritis. The decision found no CUE in these decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left pes planus, as well as low back disability. The claim for migraines remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for bronchitis is denied.,An initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic is granted.

The Veteran is granted effective dates of April 16, 2018 for the initial evaluations of 40 percent for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.,An earlier effective date of March 1, 2018 was also granted for a separate evaluation for right knee instability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, back, and neck conditions due to a lack of STRs and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a new VA medical opinion due to an inadequate previous opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection of septal infarct due to her withdrawal request during a hearing. The remaining issues regarding cervical spine condition, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has determined that an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left hip disability, including whether it had its onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip and left shoulder disorders, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection were granted.,A rating of 10 percent was assigned for psoriatic arthritis of the right elbow.