Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for TBI with residual headaches, right ear hearing loss, and a bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not granted a compensable rating.

The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected neck, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, left hip (extension, flexion, abduction), right hip (extension, flexion, abduction), left knee (flexion), right knee (flexion), and left ankle (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion) disabilities, but denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia and denied increased ratings for other conditions, remanding several claims for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including back, hip and knee disabilities.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for additional development and referral to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's left knee conditions and granted a 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee, effective May 5, 2022.

The Board remands the appeal for additional development, including obtaining a corrective opinion and reviewing new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a right knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current disability levels.

The Veteran's total right knee replacement was granted an increased rating of 60 percent from October 1, 2018, to September 9, 2024, but the claim for a higher rating after September 10, 2024, was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder as the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors were not verified and there was no competent evidence linking his current disabilities to active service.

The Board granted revision of the July 2013 rating decision that assigned a 10 percent rating for right knee internal derangement on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) but denied revision of the 20 percent rating for right shoulder internal derangement.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, to include left knee osteoarthritis, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected total right knee replacement and granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected total right knee replacement.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, as the Veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to deficiencies in the record and VA's duty to assist.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of January 13, 2021, for the assignment of a 50 percent evaluation for sinusitis, a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and a 10 percent evaluation for left knee disability with instability (DC 5257). The claim for an earlier effective date than January 25, 2019, for the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for left knee disability with limited flexion (DC 5260) was denied.

The appeal to discontinue the separate 10 percent rating for 'instability in status post operative medial meniscectomy and arthritis, right knee' was denied due to clear and unmistakable error.