Knee decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right knee instability and a 20 percent rating for painful and/or limited motion of the right knee, but denied a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5257 for the Veteran's right knee disability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Board remands the matter for additional development, specifically to obtain retrospective opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome during flareups.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address deficiencies in the previous examinations, specifically regarding pain and medication effects.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for right knee limitation of extension and a rating of 10 percent for right knee instability based on the Veteran's medical history and examination findings.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right eye dry eyes, cataracts of the left and right eyes, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left renal arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, recurrent subluxation of the left knee prior to May 13, 2020, left total knee replacement, disability rating in excess of 60 percent from September 1, 2021, forward for left total knee replacement, DJD of the right knee, right knee instability, burns of the bilateral ankles, linear scar of the left knee, post-surgical tender scars of the left knee, and a total disability rating due to unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disabilities prior to June 14, 2019.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for left knee instability with osteoarthritis and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, migraines, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements and explaining the etiology of her additional right knee injury.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability, neck strain, and tinea pedis. The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was also denied. The claims for service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, left and right hip pain, right knee degenerative arthritis, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's request for higher-level review of the November 2014 rating decision was denied as untimely.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, but denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, intestinal condition (chronic colitis), and chronic migraine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a right knee disability, as there was no probative evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service or were related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board granted a separate rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee meniscus condition, effective April 12, 2024, and denied a reduction in the rating from 10 percent to 0 percent for her right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, and left shoulder, as well as PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee scar was denied.

The Board remanded the case regarding a $9,252.41 debt issued to the Veteran after a rating decision granted service connection for various right knee conditions and assigned a temporary 100 percent evaluation. The Veteran disputes whether the debt represents an overpayment or retroactive pay, and the Board found the Veteran was not adequately notified of the specific basis for the alleged debt.

The appeal was remanded for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice concerning his right to a hearing under 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to untimely filings or lack of jurisdiction over deferred claims.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and an earlier effective date of May 14, 2018, for radiculopathy right lower extremity. Other claims were denied.