Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding the evidence in equipoise.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and major adjustment disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left shoulder, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg shin splints, and right shoulder condition were remanded.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating, but granted an effective date of August 5, 2021, for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy, right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy, and tinnitus based on the evidence showing onset during active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal stenosis. The claim for headaches was dismissed as moot after the March 2025 rating decision awarded service connection for migraine (claimed as tension headaches).

The Board remands the appeal to the agency of original jurisdiction for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition as secondary to her service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and restored the 20% rating for a lumbar spine disability. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied service connection for liver disease, arthritis, psychiatric disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, mood disorder due to known physiological condition with depressive like features, bilateral foot pain with plantar fasciitis, and right foot pes planus. The decision also denied an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion, a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability, an initial compensable disability rating for uterine fibroids, and a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a lower back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle post-traumatic arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and right bundle branch block.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, finding that the disability was aggravated during service.

The Board remands the appeal for an adequate retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee impairment.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for left elbow degenerative arthritis, but no higher.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine vertebral fracture with DDD, degenerative arthritis, and spinal fusion, as well as radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the right knee disability, as the Veteran's right knee disability manifested in no greater than extension limited to 20 degrees.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral condition, including lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and scoliosis, based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during the Veteran's active duty service.

The appeal for a compensable evaluation for service-connected hypertension was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative, and thus dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, finding it manifested to a compensable degree within one year of the Veteran's separation from service. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound criteria, as there was no evidence that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for daily personal needs without assistance from others or substantially confined him to his dwelling.