Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to pre-decisional errors, including inadequate medical examinations and missing relevant records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral cataracts with visual disturbance and bilateral pinguecula, as well as service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and right shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, cervical strain, kidney stones, right elbow tendonitis, and left knee strain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and granted earlier effective dates for certain hip conditions, while restoring some disability ratings.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, right wrist, right hip, left knee, right knee, and bilateral foot disability manifested by foot pain to ensure that VA provides an adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements.

The appeal regarding service connection for right knee strain was dismissed due to the lack of a timely Notice of Disagreement with the September 1999 rating decision.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and left knee disabilities, but denied an increased rating for the left knee strain, limitation of extension. Service connection was also granted for depression.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right shoulder impingement syndrome due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and fibromyalgia. The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent, which was not increased.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for right and left knee instability effective February 7, 2021, but denied increased ratings for the patellofemoral pain syndromes of both knees.

The Board granted a 10 percent initial rating for left knee instability and right knee instability, denied higher ratings for left and right knee limitation of motion, and granted an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for a right knee disorder and thyroid disorder, and these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of motion was granted a rating of 30 percent, and an earlier effective date for TDIU was granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee instability from September 8, 2016 to July 18, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for right knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as further development is required.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee condition, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or current disability related to the claimed conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right foot residuals of hallux valgus, status post-surgery and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder from December 7, 2022. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.