Knee decisions — 2025

The Board grants an earlier effective date of April 2, 2020, but no earlier, for the awards of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy; right lower extremity radiculopathy; status post arthroscopy right knee limitation of flexion; increased disability rating for status post arthroscopy right knee; and an increased disability rating for chronic back pain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded issues related to his right knee osteoarthritis and PTSD for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The left knee disability claim was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a right index finger disability and a left knee disability, as concurrent elections are prohibited. An initial rating of 20 percent was granted for a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or that the current conditions were related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his right knee strain rating and the entitlement to a higher rating for left knee strain, as no good cause was provided for declining VA examinations.

The Board granted an effective date of October 31, 2008, for service connection and a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, but denied earlier effective dates for the ratings of patellofemoral syndrome in both knees.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for further development and a new opinion to address the issues of entitlement to an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins, and service connection for knee disabilities.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 6, 1993, for the award of service connection for bilateral knee DJD with chondromalacia patella and remanded issues related to a higher disability rating and recoupment of severance pay.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability, left knee strain, and psychiatric disability (PTSD) as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of October 9, 2012, for the awards of service connection for right knee instability and left knee instability.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have prevented her from being able to secure and follow substantially gainful occupation, and she is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, tinnitus, arthritis of the neck and hands, and torn ACLs due to a need for additional development of the record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder, heart disorder, left hip disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and headaches to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to request a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with joint effusion status post arthroscopic surgery, finding that the evidence does not support a direct or presumptive link between the current disability and active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left hip disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and cervical spine disability as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, effective May 17, 2019.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of June 24, 2016 - but no earlier - for right and left knee limitation of extension.