Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied higher disability ratings for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability. However, service connection was granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no nexus between the in-service injuries and current conditions.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board granted service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis and remanded the claim for right knee joint osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip, left knee, left shoulder, lumbar spine, and left lower extremity nerve disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for right knee strain was granted, while his claim for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating of PTSD prior to June 19, 2023, were also granted. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned an effective date of March 20, 2020 for patellofemoral syndrome left knee, right knee limitation of flexion, and patellofemoral syndrome right knee. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for COPD with OSA, headaches, and hypertension, but granted a separate 20 percent rating for meniscal tear of the left knee from August 27, 2019.

The Board remands the claims for a right knee disability and right leg shin splints to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for vertigo, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hemorrhoids to schedule VA examinations. The claim for a right knee disorder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a foot disability (claimed as foot pain/plantar fasciitis), and a left knee disability (claimed as left knee replacement) due to the lack of evidence supporting current disabilities or a link to in-service events.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and remanded the claim for sleep apnea.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 23, 2013, for the grant of service connection for left knee disability.

The Board granted an effective date for TDIU and SMC from September 1, 2017, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions. It also granted a 10% rating for GERD starting July 5, 2016, and other ratings as detailed.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability manifested by pain, based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, sinusitis, and right ankle strain with limitation of motion and pain.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, back disability as secondary to pes planus, right knee disability as secondary to pes planus, and left knee disability as secondary to pes planus. The Board remanded the claims of direct service connection for a back disability and knees.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability, left ankle disability, left heel disability, and obstructive sleep apnea based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.