Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board denied an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and tendinitis, cervical spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar scoliosis and lumbar spine degenerative changes.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the left knee, as the evidence did not show limitation of flexion to less than 30 degrees.

The appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, claimed as broken neck, was dismissed because the claim had already been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction in June 2025.

The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 2, 2023, for the grant of service connection for various conditions and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis of the right hand and service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, including migraine variants and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis on a presumptive basis due to the presence of symptoms in service and continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis was remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a lower back degenerative arthritis was withdrawn by the Veteran and is therefore dismissed.

The Board remands the matter for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right hip disability, as the April 2021 VA examination is deemed inadequate.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and disability ratings, as well as remanded certain claims.

The Veteran's service connection for left shoulder strain, labral tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and tendinitis was granted, while the effective date prior to November 11, 2023, for migraine headaches was denied.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis and granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.

The Board denied an effective date prior to December 4, 2024, for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbar spine disability. However, it granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating based on the current medical findings.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as separate ratings of 10 to 20 percent for various nerve conditions. The back disability was denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disorder to obtain an addendum VA opinion that addresses the etiology of each of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorders.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and right thumb disabilities prior to certain dates but granted a 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability effective October 29, 2020.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence and non-compliance with previous remand instructions.