Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right knee disability to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion regarding its etiology and whether it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and confirming periods of active duty.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, right knee disability, and neck disability. The claim for psoriasis was dismissed.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for service-connected right knee tendonitis with cruciate ligament tear and chondromalacia patellae, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for higher initial ratings for knee strain and shoulder strain.

The appeal for service connection for various conditions was withdrawn by the Veteran and his authorized representative.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, except for an earlier effective date of November 10, 2020, for service connection for GERD.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and status post ACL reconstruction, left knee to obtain new VA examinations that do not consider the relief afforded by medications.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent for the soft tissue mass of the forehead and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for sinusitis and remanded the remaining service connection claims to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for patellar instability of the left and right knees, as well as a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion of the left knee from January 3, 2023. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition and a gastrointestinal condition, but denied an earlier effective date and higher rating for tinnitus. The claims for other conditions were either reopened or remanded.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a total right knee replacement and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for disability manifested by bilateral knee pain, as due to an undiagnosed illness, and granted ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent for chronic muscular strain of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, respectively. The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied, but SMC was granted.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination and medical opinion to estimate range of motion measurements in degrees during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinnitus and remanded several claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death and no request for substitution has been ruled on by the VA.

The Veteran's left and right knee conditions were granted a rating of 30 percent for limitation of extension, but the claims for increased ratings for instability were denied.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis status post meniscal repair and left knee degenerative arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, to ensure substantial compliance with prior remand instructions.