Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent for the period from October 1, 2019 onward. The Board has remanded this issue due to insufficient evidence regarding his current functional limitations and pain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an extension of time to file a Board Appeal request, and thus dismissed the attempted appeal due to untimeliness.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, anemia, left shoulder and elbow disorders, leukocytopenia, low back disorder, right knee disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and headaches. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis and bone spurs was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent from March 3, 2020 to August 6, 2024. The claim for a higher rating is denied as of August 6, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee strain, right lateral epicondylitis, and right shoulder impingement syndrome, right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and degenerative arthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay testimony and medical opinions supporting a link between his current disabilities and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disability and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his lumbar spine, left shoulder disability, and left shoulder AC dislocation disability. The effective date remains July 7, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions that did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication on his knee conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis, left knee condition (osteoarthritis), and right knee condition (osteoarthritis) as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation.,Service connection was also not granted on a secondary basis due to lack of established service connection for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis is currently rated as 30 percent prior to August 8, 2023 and the Board has remanded for further development. The left shoulder degenerative arthritis is also rated at 30 percent.,Issues regarding higher ratings for sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities remain pending.

Service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis is granted, and effective from August 1, 2021. Effective dates are established for service connection of migraine headaches and asthma.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee issue with osteoarthritis, mild degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left hip issues due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee strain with osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain, and lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbosacral strain due to a lack of consideration of continuity of symptoms since separation.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability rating from 40% to 10% effective July 1, 2021 was proper. The restoration of the 40% rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 12, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of migraines and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been denied. The effective dates for these conditions are not granted as they are already at their earliest possible date due to the nature of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for left knee degenerative arthritis due to a duty-to-assist error in the March 2020 VA medical opinion, and requests an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran testified about his service experiences and ongoing pain, but VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, and hearing loss. The decision is remanded for further action on the claims of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left thumb degenerative arthritis, left long finger degenerative arthritis, left second (index) finger metacarpal joint arthritis, left ring finger degenerative arthritis, and left little finger degenerative arthritis.