Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for right and left knee strain with degenerative arthritis prior to May 18, 2017, due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left and right knee disorders based on a finding that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was granted a 100 percent rating from April 8, 2024, to April 8, 2025.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a right leg or right knee condition, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board granted ratings for the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, meniscectomy with residuals, instability, genu recurvatum, and limitation of extension, but denied a rating in excess of 100 percent for his left knee total knee arthroplasty and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury, to include residuals; cervical spine disability; obstructive sleep apnea; and left and right knee disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for a cervical strain is dismissed, while the other claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with postoperative meniscal tear was granted an increased rating from 10 percent to 40 percent, but no higher, effective May 18, 2016. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for back pain, right knee instability/pain, and a bilateral hip condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of motion during flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability, as well as a TDIU from October 28, 2011, to February 23, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the disabilities were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was denied a higher rating for limitation of flexion, but a 10 percent rating was granted for instability. The claim for TDIU and SMC were also denied.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain based on new and relevant evidence that established a relationship between the Veteran's condition and his active service.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for left knee patellar instability, subject to the regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee degenerative arthritis due to a need for an addendum opinion that discounts any ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied the appeal for a disability rating for service-connected right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear with knee strain and instability, awarded under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17.

The Board granted an effective date of April 16, 2021, for the award of a 20 percent rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, limitation of extension.

The Board remands the claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to October 26, 2018, as they are inextricably intertwined with an extraschedular TDIU claim.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right and left knee gout, effective August 10, 2022.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left knee degenerative medial meniscal tear with painful and limited motion, granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic post-surgical meniscus tear in the left knee, denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee degenerative meniscal tear based on instability, and denied a compensable initial rating for bilateral shin splints.