Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a right knee disorder to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that any current right knee disorder pre-existed service, and if not, whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension and assigned a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from May 11, 2023, through August 9, 2024.

The Board denied increased ratings for post-traumatic osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease of the knees, denied a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder in sustained remission, denied initial compensable evaluations for knee surgical scars, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board granted separate 10 percent ratings for meniscectomy of both knees.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral knee disability, and skin fungus as the evidence did not show a current disability or functional impairment of earning capacity related to these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for asthma and an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher, for left knee disability based on limitation of extension. The claim for a higher rating for left knee disability based on limitation of flexion was denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right shoulder, left and right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability and denied a higher rating for the same condition, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for nerve or radiculopathy conditions in both lower extremities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hip disability, but remanded the claim for service connection for headaches due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right knee, and lower back conditions as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for acute sinusitis, extrinsic asthma, headaches, a low back condition, right leg numbness as secondary to a low back condition, left leg numbness as secondary to a low back condition, a right knee condition, and a left knee condition. The initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee, right shoulder, and right shin disorder but denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal issues, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left knee limitation of flexion and extension, as well as an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder. The claim for a higher initial disability rating for left knee instability was denied.

The Board granted service connection for other specified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and increased the ratings for thoracic spine degenerative changes, right knee degenerative disease, left knee degenerative disease, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a neck disorder, back disorder, right foot disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, and right leg disorder, as further development is needed.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded.

The appeal was dismissed as the notice of disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, chronic headaches, and right knee disability. The claims for a compensable rating for an itchy linear scar coccyx status-post pilonidal cyst, rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful linear scar on the coccyx, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied.