Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) — all decisions

The veteran withdrew all pending appeals on April 28, 2025.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for right elbow degenerative arthritis with medial epicondylitis, but the claim for a compensable rating for left elbow degenerative arthritis with medial epicondylitis was denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including herniation and bulging disk L4 through S1, knee pain with osteoarthritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neuropathy. However, the Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic headaches.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and granted increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD, a higher rating for left shoulder disability, and an earlier effective date for the award of a 20 percent rating for left shoulder disability.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent but no higher for right foot osteoarthritis and calcaneal spur from April 12, 2016 to April 9, 2021, but denied a higher rating from April 9, 2021.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding SSA records.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back, right ring finger, and left foot hallux valgus disabilities but granted an initial 30 percent rating for pes planus from August 17, 2021, a 50 percent rating for pes planus from December 15, 2023, and a separate 10 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis from August 17, 2021.

The Board granted an effective date of April 10, 2015, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted initial ratings of 40 percent for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 10, 2015, to June 1, 2020.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for increased disability ratings and higher initial disability ratings, leading to their dismissal.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities are causally linked to his in-service injuries sustained during active duty for training.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid arthritis with acetabular cyst status post right total hip replacement, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, fever sores, and a compromised immune system, as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 27, 2023, for the award of service connection for left ankle osteoarthritis and remanded a claim for a higher disability evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims for bilateral tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical evidence.