Knee decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic radiculopathy and 30 percent for the left knee disability from August 7, 2019 to September 26, 2019.

The Board restored the Veteran's 70 percent rating for insomnia disorder, effective April 1, 2024. The appeal to establish service connection for various conditions was denied or dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted an effective date of February 29, 2024, for the award of increased ratings for cervical strain, right shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus with bilateral metatarsalgia, left knee strain, and common headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability, a recurrent left shoulder disability, and a recurrent left knee disability to be further evaluated with additional medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sclerosis and remanded the claims for heart murmur, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis due to a lack of current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and increased rating claims, effective March 14, 2025.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the December 2024 AOJ decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury, lumbar spine strain, and limitations of extension and flexion in both knees with arthritis, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and chronic joint pain due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate medical evidence and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability but granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The decision also denied a compensable rating for the veteran's left inguinal hernia.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, a left knee condition, a lumbosacral spine condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) was granted, while his claim for high blood pressure was denied. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate rating were partially granted. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee dislocated cartilage prior to July 14, 2016; denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent from July 14, 2016, for the same condition; denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion prior to October 5, 2021; granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee slight instability from August 18, 2017; and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for an initial compensable rating for a service-connected right knee strain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the June 2024 VA examination.

The Board dismissed all claims for higher initial ratings and service connection, as the Veteran requested a higher-level review of these issues in May 2024 but then appealed to the Board in August 2024, leading to concurrent review which is not allowed.

The Board granted service connection for left knee posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, bilateral shin splints, and lumbar strain. A 20 percent initial rating was assigned for hemorrhoids.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, to include lumbar spondylosis; residuals of prostate carcinoma (claimed as prostate cancer); and increased ratings for degenerative changes with meniscal tear of the right knee and sinusitis. The Veteran's combined disability evaluation was also denied.