Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and non-compensable ratings for his left and right shoulder injuries, as well as scars on both shoulders, based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his low back disability, as there was no evidence of limitation of motion or painful motion that would warrant a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's heart disability, hypothyroidism, and skeletal arthritis of entire joint system. The lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected low back disability, finding that the evidence supported no higher than a 20 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities, effective September 19, 2022.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability, but granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis from April 4, 2017 to July 13, 2020.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the right ankle disability prior to November 16, 2019 and from April 23, 2021 onward; denied a higher rating during other periods. The Board also granted a 30 percent disability rating for the right foot pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, left foot achilles spur and degenerative arthritis, and right foot hallux valgus from September 28, 2023 to May 29, 2025; denied a higher rating during other periods. The Board granted TDIU for the period from March 1, 2025 to June 6, 2025.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected left hip disability before May 27, 2025, and denied a higher rating from that date.

The Board granted service connection for several left-sided joint conditions and a right shoulder disability, while denying service connection for a skeletal system disorder other than degenerative arthritis and a right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left wrist condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, dry mouth, and a skin condition. Several claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disorder and right shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tendinosis based on the evidence showing a relationship to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, to include osteoarthritis, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or immediately after his military separation and the current disability was more likely age-related.

The Board granted separate evaluations of 20 percent for right knee instability and left knee instability, as well as a TDIU from December 4, 2016, to December 4, 2017, and from December 4, 2017.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for cervical spine spondylosis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, as an adequate medical opinion has not been obtained.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right third toe disability and entitlement to TDIU due to outstanding evidence and further development.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, specifically to obtain adequate retrospective VA medical opinions addressing the criteria noted in Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, claimed as neck pain, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current disability and her period of active service.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, effective December 1, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for benign micro adenoma of the pituitary and hypogonadism as secondary to it, and remanded several other conditions for further development.