Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. The Veteran is entitled to a noncompensable rating for his right ear hearing loss.

The appeal for a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus is dismissed.,The reduction of the disability ratings for low back condition and left knee condition from 20% to 10% and noncompensable, respectively, effective January 29, 2024, was restored.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia, hallux valgus, and degenerative arthritis is related to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, left shoulder arthritis, right ankle and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Veteran's stroke, s/p cerebrovascular accident is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis in left foot and lower back disability are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee are denied as not being service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis in left hip is denied as not being service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it is related to a neck injury during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for status post lumbar spinal decompression and right L3-L4 partial laminectomy with degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for effective dates prior to specific dates for various service-connected disabilities of the hands and ankles.,For conditions involving the right shoulder, left elbow, and fingers, the Board found that the initial ratings were not met before or after the specified dates.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to incomplete evidence and an error in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. The claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's right shoulder strain, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right wrist strain, left wrist strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain are inadequate. The claims are therefore being remanded to schedule new examinations.

The Veteran's right knee residuals of patellectomy are granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective August 1, 2024. The left knee strain with knee joint osteoarthritis claim is remanded.

The Board has found the reduction in ratings for left knee conditions improper and restored the original ratings. The issues of increased ratings, effective dates, and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination reports regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for the issues related to earlier effective dates for left hip disabilities.,The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew them.

The Veteran's left knee partial replacement surgery is rated at 30 percent from September 28, 2020, and no higher. The decision acknowledges the Veteran's pain but finds that his knee does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of chronic residuals.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100%, but the appeal for TDIU and SMC Housebound was denied due to lack of a single service-connected disability rated as 100% or additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of service connection for disorders of the right and left hands, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, a disorder of both feet, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, chronic headache disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been remanded. The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has also been remanded.

The Veteran's radicular pain, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia of the right upper extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine condition. His rating for bony bridging posteriorly involving the C4, C5, and C6 with degenerative arthritis of the spine is also granted at 30 percent effective February 28, 2023.

The reduction in the disability evaluation rating for service-connected left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, MCL sprain, effusion, status post ACL repair including limitation of flexion from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper. The 30 percent rating is restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disability and hearing loss due to additional evidence added since the August 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.