Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis as there was no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome with chondromalacia patellae, effective September 28, 2020.

The Board granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's back condition, restored from a previous reduction, and granted service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a qualifying chronic disability and granted an initial 10% rating for right knee instability, while denying service connection for other conditions including right wrist disorder, left hip disorder, right hand arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, increased ratings for the right knee flexion, and right shoulder recurrent dislocation.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve radiculopathy, and left knee instability while granting a 10% rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy from January 24, 2019, to August 30, 2019, and a 20% rating for left knee disability with instability beginning on that date. The Board also granted an initial 100% rating for major depressive disorder (MDD) effective February 5, 2021.

The Board granted the appeal for severance of service connection for right knee instability and improper reduction in rating from 60 percent to 30 percent for TKR.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. An effective date of April 23, 2021, was granted for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability (claimed as right total knee replacement) based on evidence showing the condition began in service and persisted since that time.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, to include osteoarthritis, and an effective date of April 20, 2017, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted in full. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol/stimulant use disorder, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, right knee disability (degenerative arthritis), and right knee surgical scars. The issues of a low back disability, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, left knee disability, shin splints, right foot disability, and right ankle disability were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left and right knee strains, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left ankle disability, tinnitus, and a right hip disability due to deficiencies in the evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum and obstructive sleep apnea, but remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, right knee condition, low back pain, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal request was denied as it was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased rating due to untimely filings or lack of proper forms.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 2, 2017 for service-connected hypertension was granted. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbar degenerative arthritis and remanded claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis.

The appeal for increased initial disability ratings was dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis prior to October 5, 2015.