Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes. The claims for right TKR and GERD were remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent rating, while the claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied. A separate 10 percent rating was granted from June 17, 2020, for slight left knee instability, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hip condition, headaches/migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but denied service connection for a left knee condition. The issues of service connection for cervical strain, bilateral foot condition, rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The appeal of the proposed reduction in the right knee disability was dismissed, and the issues regarding hypertension, left shoulder, and left knee were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a respiratory condition, chronic headaches, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and a left knee condition. It also granted increased ratings for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity restless leg syndrome, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating, thus the claims are dismissed.

The Board granted the appeal as to the severance of service connection for bilateral elbow, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to evidence indicating these conditions were incurred during the Veteran's time in service.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis based on evidence of in-service injury and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, left leg shin splints, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right pinky finger disability, hypertension, tuberculosis, and GERD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically related to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted increased ratings of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The claim for service connection for right knee strain was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for an unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol dependence, and service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability due to pre-decisional errors of the duty to assist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea as due to herein service-connected chronic sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. It also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for the left knee disability and 30 percent for the right knee disability.

The appeal seeking service connection for a left knee condition was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for left and right sciatica radicular pain, a disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, and remanded the claim for a higher rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The appeal was dismissed due to the lack of a timely appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, making the December 2023 rating decision final.

The Board granted an effective date of July 20, 2019, for service connection for right knee instability and left knee instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left knee disability, alcohol abuse disorder, and a liver condition as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities as there was no evidence of chronic disability during service or a nexus to service.