Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection of gout in multiple joints, to include as secondary to chronic kidney disease, due to an inadequate opinion regarding secondary service connection and a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of entitlement to an earlier date or higher ratings based on the facts found.

The Board granted an increased rating of 60 percent for chronic edema, right lower extremity. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the ratings assigned to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and granted a TDIU from September 7, 2018, to July 8, 2020, but dismissed it as moot thereafter.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for the 2021 calendar year for use of a bilateral knee brace, a back brace, and an elbow brace due to wear and tear on his clothing.

The Veteran's service-connected insomnia disorder is rated at 30 percent, but no higher, from March 23, 2022, to present. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for a right hip disability, a higher rating for a right knee strain, and a higher rating for a right shoulder degenerative arthritis to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral hip condition as further development is needed.

The claim for an increased rating for nonpainful right shoulder scars was denied, while other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for left knee strain, limitation of flexion and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee sprain, limitation of extension. The claims for increased ratings for the right knee and service connection for hypertension were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left hip disability. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left knee pain, right knee pain, low back pain, sleep apnea, sinusitis, and eye allergies. The initial rating for allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, granted a 20 percent rating for the left knee disability prior to August 30, 2018, and denied a higher rating from October 1, 2019. TDIU was granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, as well as left ankle strain.

The Board remands the claims for a right knee disorder, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee disability and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no evidence of a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for further development, including efforts to obtain service treatment records.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for GERD and denied service connection for sleep apnea, while dismissing the appeals for PTSD, BHL, and left knee condition as untimely. The other claims were remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for a left knee strain and right knee strain.

The Board granted an effective date of August 24, 2021, for a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain.