The Bug:
Bone meal cannot be applied to moss if there is a block above it.
Steps to Reproduce:
Build the setup shown in the attachment below.
Attempt to apply bone meal to the moss block on the left side.
→ ✔ Notice how the bone meal is used and the moss spreads.
Attempt to apply bone meal to the moss block on the right side.
→ ❌ Notice how you are unable to do so, therefore indicating that moss requires air above it in order to be bone mealed.
Information:
This could be intentional.
Can confirm in 1.17-rc1