Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no current disability or sufficient evidence to support higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a back injury and left knee strain as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for a left hip disability, GERD, and dermatitis. The claims for a bowel disability and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board granted increased ratings for left knee instability and residuals of arthroscopic debridement of meniscal tear, post-operative, left knee with shin splints with iliotibial band syndrome, left leg, but denied a compensable rating for the scar from the same condition. The appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain was dismissed.

The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating for left triceps tear without residuals, finding that the evidence did not support a moderate or greater severity of the muscle injury.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain, limitation of flexion and granted a separate, compensable rating of 10 percent for left knee strain, painful motion at extension. The Board also denied service connection for hearing loss (right and left ear) and radicular pain to include hypoesthesia and paresthesia in both legs.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and remanded initial rating claims, except for an effective date of April 25, 1999, for left knee disability.

The Board dismissed claims for increased ratings and a compensable evaluation, as well as earlier effective dates for unemployability and educational assistance due to procedural defects.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability, right knee disability (including degenerative arthritis), and obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine condition and bilateral knee condition for further development, as the post-remand medical opinions are inadequate.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee instability but denied higher ratings and separate compensable ratings for other related conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder, neck, and left knee conditions to acquire new medical opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1, right shoulder condition, right elbow conditions, left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear, postmenopausal acne, and surgical scars of the lower back and right elbow. However, a 60 percent rating was granted for hypothyroidism prior to July 8, 2024, and TDIU from July 30, 2013.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various recurrent disabilities to allow for additional evidence review.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and heel disabilities as they were not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any event, injury, or disease in service and are not caused or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, limitation of extension, and instability due to insufficient evidence regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board denied service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and psoriasis, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's right knee disability, during flare-ups and with the use of medication, more nearly approximates the criteria of favorable ankylosis in flexion between 20 and 45 degrees. A 50 percent rating is granted for this condition.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left and right knee arthritis due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease with CAD, diabetes mellitus type 2, left below knee amputation with left hip avascular necrosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's service-connected status post left leg amputation.