Knee decisions — 2025

The appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection for meniscal tear, cruciate ligament with degenerative arthritis of the right leg, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, L5, and right knee instability was denied.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and appeals, resulting in the dismissal of the service connection claims for various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation, as well as DEA benefits, due to no evidence of a claim being filed within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of right and left knee strains, as well as remanded claims for higher initial ratings and additional service connection issues.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the entire skeletal system (other than cervical spine, right shoulder, bilateral hands, and left foot), a left knee condition (other than arthritis), and other specific joints. The claims were not granted.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability, but denied service connection for a heart disability, to include CAD, valvular heart disease, and a PCI stent.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to an inadequate examination.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including cervical strain, left and right forearm nerve pain, bilateral shoulder disabilities, low back disability, and other related conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee condition and denied an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for left sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of the left leg, right sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia of the right leg, and sleep apnea. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for a right knee disability was dismissed, and the appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability was also dismissed.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee, for an addendum opinion.

The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left iliotibial band friction syndrome (claimed as left knee injury) was dismissed due to a concurrent election error.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right knee disability to obtain additional evidence, including medical records and an opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board remands the claim for an increased evaluation of the right knee condition due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran was granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent for left knee instability prior to February 3, 2021 and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the painful left knee scar status post left knee replacement.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability manifested by pain and major depressive disorder (MDD), but remanded the claims for right knee strain, migraines, right shoulder strain, and left shoulder pain.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU as a result of service-connected left knee arthroplasty alone is granted, along with special monthly compensation (SMC) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 1114(s).

The Board remands the claim for service connection for left knee pain to correct a duty to assist error and obtain an addendum opinion.

The Board denied readjudication of the right shoulder disability claim, granted readjudication of the acquired psychiatric disorder claim, and denied earlier effective dates for back, knee, and radiculopathy claims as well as increased ratings for various disabilities.