Knee decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine and left knee conditions, restored the ratings for right hip acetabular fracture and bilateral hearing loss, and remanded evaluations for other conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include an anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent from September 1, 2021, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board granted restoration of the Veteran's 20 percent disability rating for right knee instability effective from February 1, 2023, and denied the appeal for restoration of a duplicate 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include an anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent from September 1, 2021, but no more.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, to include arthritis, as the evidence did not support that the Veteran's right knee disability began during service or was otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability based on the evidence showing that these conditions are etiologically related to active service.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and a 10 percent rating for migraine headaches, while remanding other claims.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, while the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and both lower extremity radiculopathies are denied due to failure to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back condition and right knee condition were granted ratings of 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively, from December 1, 2023. The other conditions for which increased ratings were sought were denied.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, GERD, contact dermatitis, left ankle gout, degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, left knee meniscal tear and gout, left big toe gout, left elbow gout, status post cervical fusion, and sleep apnea, as they are related to active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to ratings in excess of 20 percent for left and right knee conditions due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for hypertension, effective July 1, 2025. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, respiratory conditions, foot and ankle issues, knee and shoulder problems, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, IBS, and sleep disorders.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for infertility, left and right knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as there was not new and relevant evidence submitted within a valid evidentiary window.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and denied increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD limitation of flexion, left shoulder arthritis, and other issues. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder and separate 20 percent ratings for right knee instability and right knee DJD limitation of extension.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a disability rating of 100 percent, while other claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for back and bilateral knee disabilities to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability and separate 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability, while denying higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral cataracts, restrictive lung disease/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, and low back pain/back osteoarthritis. The claim for a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension was denied.