Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied various claims for increased disability ratings and restoration of a compensable rating for the Veteran's left knee, bilateral pes planus, right ankle, left hip, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Board remands the increased rating claims for right and left knee disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a thoracolumbar spine disorder, erectile dysfunction, and a left knee disorder. The Veteran was granted an effective date of September 6, 2018, but not earlier, for the assignment of a rating of 100 percent for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee total arthroplasty, finding that the chronic residuals more nearly approximated severe painful motion or weakness.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, from January 8, 2024, due to an inadequate examination. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right elbow degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis (diagnosed as right knee arthritic changes), and left knee osteoarthritis (diagnosed as left knee arthritic changes) on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and his active military service.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for anatomical loss or injury of the mouth, lips, or tongue and remanded service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and higher evaluation for patellar tendonitis of the left knee.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for his service-connected left knee status post total knee arthroplasty and also denied special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a current diagnosis or sufficient in-service incurrence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions due to a lack of evidence supporting an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, right elbow disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and sinusitis due to a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a bowel disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as secondary to service-connected PTSD and denied the remaining claims for service connection.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 30 percent rating of right shoulder degenerative joint disease, the 50 percent rating of left knee limitation of extension, and the 20 percent rating of left knee instability.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, chronic left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service injuries and continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted service connection for a right knee disability. The ratings for tinnitus, limitation of flexion and extension of the right hip, impairment of the right hip, lumbar spine disability, and left ankle disability were also denied or granted as appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow olecranon bursitis, painful motion and limitation of supination, as well as a compensable rating for left knee scars.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee strain, finding the evidence to be in relative equipoise regarding their relationship to military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle, neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, left elbow, and right knee disabilities, as new evidence has been received that warrants readjudication.