Knee decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bell's palsy, an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, a right knee disorder, and a right hip disorder were either denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left knee condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as somatic symptom disorder, and increased the initial rating for lumbosacral spine arthritis to 40 percent from October 22, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, diagnosed as knee strain, and hemorrhoids. The claims for low back disability, headaches, anemia, melanoma, OSA, hypertension, and psychiatric disability were either dismissed or remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches based on the presumption of chronic disease, but remanded claims for a neck condition and right knee condition for further development.

The Board granted clothing allowances for a back brace and wheelchair, but denied them for a neck brace, bilateral knee braces, pain medication therapy, cane, and walker.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right knee limitation of flexion, and migraines due to inadequate VA examinations that did not discount the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis under the PACT Act.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee replacement, finding no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his active service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded claims for other disabilities due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for left knee strain and service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left knee meniscal tear and chronic rhinitis, but denied earlier effective dates for headaches and a left knee scar. Service connection was also granted for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee joint osteoarthritis status post MCL surgery based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's limitation of flexion has always been far better than 30 degrees and most limited to approximately 125 degrees, even when considering all factors, such as flare-ups and after repetitive use.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the currently assigned 10 percent or 50 percent.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities to correct a regulatory or statutory duty, the correction of which has a reasonable possibility of aiding in substantiating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbar strain, and cervical strain. A 50 percent rating was granted for migraines from January 11, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating and earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for various conditions including cardiovascular issues, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Board granted separate ratings for meniscal conditions of the knees and service connection for left knee instability and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to a service-connected condition, while denying increased ratings for the knees based on limitation of extension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or earlier effective dates.