Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted service connection for headaches but remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and left foot conditions to provide VA examinations.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder from July 21, 2010, through October 24, 2019, and denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent on and after October 25, 2019. The Board also granted ratings of 30 percent and 10 percent for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis based on limitation of flexion and extension, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for joint conditions of the right and left hands, as well as initial compensable ratings for various hip and knee disabilities.

The Board granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right and left knee disabilities, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to render him unable to physically care for himself, thereby granting special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including tinnitus, headaches, and various musculoskeletal issues, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to an injury or disease incurred during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date prior to the specified dates.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including spondylolisthesis or segmental instability (DJD spondylolisthesis L-5 S1), radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, paralysis of the ulnar nerve, acromioclavicular joint arthritis, left ankle tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral feet with plantar fasciitis, fibromyalgia, pituitary macroadenoma, diabetes mellitus type II, and renal failure.

The Board granted service connection for a left hip and left knee disability as secondary to the right knee disability, but denied increased ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and the right knee disability. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for instability of the right knee.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for increased disability ratings for degenerative joint disease in both his left and right knees.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the AOJ's failure to obtain complete military records and provide VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lower back disability, and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine condition and left knee condition, while denying service connection for costochondritis, dizziness, right foot condition, sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis with calcific tendinopathy, supraspinatus tendon status-post acromioplasty/distal clavicle excision, and a compensable rating for scar of right shoulder. The initial rating for PTSD was denied.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these issues.

The appeal for service connection for 14 issues, including hearing loss, tinnitus, neck pain, and others, was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for weight gain, loss of vision, sleep apnea, right foot condition, hypertension, hearing loss, and right knee pain.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and evaluation in excess of certain ratings for various service-connected conditions, as well as a claim for TDIU, due to the need for updated medical information.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 7, 2017, for right and left knee disabilities; a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals shrapnel wound to the right hip affecting Muscle Group XIII and XVII prior to August 15, 2023; and a TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities prior to August 24, 2011.

The Board remands the claims for an increased disability rating for left knee strain and a separate rating for left knee instability due to inadequate VA examinations.