Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied readjudication of increased rating claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and cervical spine, as well as an earlier effective date for DEA and entitlement to TDIU due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.

The appeal for service connection for left, right knee, and right ankle disabilities was withdrawn by the Veteran, and these claims were dismissed. The appeal for a low back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, polycythemia, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome based on limited cervical range of motion and a 40 percent rating for IVDS based on limited thoracolumbar range of motion, while dismissing the appeal for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent disability rating for right knee disability, limitation of flexion, and remanded issues related to increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus but denied service connection for right knee arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder strain, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee minimal degenerative joint disease with patellar tendinitis and bursitis, vertigo, congestive heart failure, and hypertension, to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied higher ratings for the right knee tear and instability, but granted an earlier effective date for service connection of right knee instability.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective November 8, 2021, and denied increased ratings for headaches and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The veteran withdrew all appeals for increased ratings of various conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including the left and right shoulders, ankles, knees, elbow, and low back, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or treatment related to these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a lumbar spine disorder, left elbow disorder, and others, to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities without medication, as well as an opinion on the etiology of his psychiatric conditions.

The Board granted service connection for left knee pain with functional loss, right knee pain with functional loss, left shin splints, right shin splints, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, anxiety, and somatic disorder. The claim for an increased rating for a left ankle fracture was denied.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 100 percent for ulcerative colitis and denied increased ratings for lumbar paraspinal tendonitis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a left meniscus tear, right knee instability, chronic sinusitis or other condition of the nose, throat, larynx and pharynx, diabetes, type 1 or type 2, hypertension (high blood pressure), tinnitus, and visual impairment, including blurry vision, blindness and double vision.

The Board granted an effective date of September 18, 1995, for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee in all its manifestations but denied increased ratings from May 8, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip disability and remanded claims for service connection for migraines and contusion left calf. Other claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right knee strain with tendinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The TDIU claim was dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and denied service connection for right shoulder scars. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left thumb, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder were remanded.