Knee decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment prior to June 14, 2022.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the current disabilities and active military service, including any environmental hazards or pre-existing conditions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and providing appropriate notice to the Veteran regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed conditions, including a neck disorder, low back disorder, shoulder disorders, knee disorder, ankle and foot disorders, skin rash, eye disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, based on the chronicity and continuity of symptoms within one year after separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left hand, left knee, and right knee conditions as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.

The Board remands the increased rating claims for the left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities due to the need for additional medical records.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, remanded claims for right and left foot conditions, and remanded the claim for skin cancer due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, ankle, and foot disabilities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, denied an increased rating for the right knee and psychiatric disorder, and granted an additional 10 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome but granted eligibility for specially adapted housing, and increased the rating for bilateral lower extremity peripheral arterial occlusive disease to 60 percent from August 30, 2024. Service connection was also granted for right knee ganglion cyst and bilateral knee intrasubstance degeneration of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus patellar tendinosis with subcutaneous soft tissue swelling.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability with scar status post quadriceps tendon repair, as it was not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Board also denied a temporary total evaluation for an August 7, 2017 surgery and convalescence for left knee quadriceps tendon repair.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a separate rating for a left knee meniscal condition due to the need for a new examination.

The Board denied the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent and 30 percent for various gout conditions affecting the right knee, left knee, left ankle, left hand, and left elbow. The claims were denied based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left knee strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and PTSD, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased knee ratings and TDIU for further development, as the previous Board decision did not provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases and failed to ensure VA's duty to assist had been satisfied.

The claims for increased ratings for the left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).