Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting in-service incurrence or current diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, as there was no evidence showing blood pressure readings predominantly 200 or more systolic or predominantly 110 or more diastolic at any time during the claim period.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated during service.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure adequate VA examinations are conducted.

The Board denied an initial evaluation more than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee, as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion or extension.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder strain and right knee strain, finding that the evidence supports a link to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted an effective date of July 26, 2013 for the award of service connection for right knee instability.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, bilateral knee disorders, sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal of service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for VA home loan guaranty benefits is granted based on his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including asthma, respiratory issues, and other musculoskeletal conditions due to the lack of evidence supporting current diagnoses or a link to in-service events.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for granting service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to his right knee disability.

The appeals for service connection and earlier effective date were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease prior to November 14, 2021, but granted a 40 percent rating for the left lower extremity from that date. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear status post arthroscopic debridement and meniscectomy effective February 23, 2023.

The Board remands the claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for a right knee disorder with osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional error of the duty to assist.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and cervical strain, denied earlier effective dates for left knee strain, right knee strain with arthritis, and hepatitis B, and denied a higher rating for hepatitis B. The appeal of duty-to-assist errors was dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for back, knee, and radiculopathy disabilities as well as obstructive sleep apnea due to a need for new VA examinations.