Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a compensable disability rating for right knee extension to ensure the record is complete, including obtaining outstanding scanned documents of records of imaging and treatment at non-VA facilities.

The Board remands the claims for further development to address the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and the ameliorative effects of medication and injections.

The Board remands the claim for a new opinion adequate for purposes of VA adjudication, as it finds that the AOJ has not substantially complied with both remand instructions.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability for an addendum medical opinion that adequately considers the Veteran's statements regarding his experiences jumping out of planes and the onset of pain in service.

The Board granted eligibility for the direct payment of attorney fees to the appellant from benefits resulting from the March 2024 grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee patella strain, right knee patella strain, left knee patella instability, and right knee patella instability, but denied such eligibility for a 50 percent rating for a right hip disorder status post total arthroplasty.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran filed a VA Form 10182 more than one year after the December 2022 and January 2023 rating decisions that addressed the service connection issues.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right knee, shoulder, back, ankle, elbow, and sciatica conditions, due to a failure to provide adequate VA examinations and incomplete verification of National Guard service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disorder and denied increased ratings for right knee strain, left knee flexion, and left knee extension. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle crepitus were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, tinnitus, and bilateral uveitis, finding that the current ratings were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee disability based on limitation of flexion, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining claims on appeal due to missing service treatment records that were later located.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left knee and migraine disabilities, as well as higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for diabetes mellitus, Type 2 with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy secondary to medications taken for high cholesterol was denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection due to insufficient evidence linking the conditions to active service or other presumptive exposures.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection, except for a 10 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a 20 percent rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected insomnia.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of the Veteran's service-connected conditions due to inadequate VA examinations and concerns about the Veteran's credibility regarding the reported severity of his disabilities.

The Board remands all claims for new VA medical opinions in accordance with the holding in Spicer v. McDonough, which addresses the correct legal standards for secondary service connection.

The Board granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) based on a direct service connection analysis.