Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee disabilities, including limitation of extension and failed complete ligament tear s/p.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 23, 2011 to May 10, 2022, excluding the period of full-time employment from August 5, 2021 to December 4, 2021. The claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, which includes Baker's cyst, strain, and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 16, 2014, as the evidence did not show that he was precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and a rating of 30 percent for left knee joint instability, while remanding other issues.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence does not support a direct or secondary relationship to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, while remanding claims for depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbar spine strain.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for right knee strain and left knee strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for a low back condition and left knee condition to obtain additional evidence, including private treatment records and new VA examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for restoration of a 30 percent rating and an initial compensable rating for right knee patellar tendinitis, finding that there was material improvement in his condition.

The veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision, and all claims were dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including a back condition and shoulder, knee, and ankle conditions, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to in-service events.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from September 22, 2020, but no higher. The appeal for TDIU and service connection claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, but granted an increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome) and 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with TBI and an earlier effective date of January 11, 2016, but no earlier, for left knee limitation of extension with joint osteoarthritis.

The appeals for service connection and initial ratings were dismissed due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) being filed more than one year after the November 2022 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and earlier effective dates for the left knee strain rating.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of June 9, 2019, for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for left and right ankle tendinitis, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. However, it denied service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and there are no allegations of error for appellate consideration.