Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee conditions and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board remands the matters for further development, specifically to obtain retrospective opinions with estimated passive range of motion and during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing for both knees based on the April 2011, March 2016, and May 2019 examination reports.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, effective December 12, 2024. The claim for readjudication of the initial rating for headaches syndrome based on new and relevant evidence is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right wrist disability.

The Board granted the attorney's eligibility for direct payment of fees based on past-due benefits awarded from the October 2023 rating decision's award of service connection for right hip limitation of abduction, but denied it for left knee strain.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral knee condition, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted an effective earlier date of September 10, 2013 for the initial 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a 30 percent rating for right knee medial meniscus tear with meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, low back, neck pain, PTSD, and left shoulder conditions, as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), as the evidence did not support a finding of a causal relationship between these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic headaches, including migraines, and left and right knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, but denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, left hand disorder, right knee disorder.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability was dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely Supplemental Claim to continuously pursue the claim.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee meniscal condition, but denied increased ratings for left knee instability and limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted from March 6, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, left elbow pain, left hip pain, left knee pain, right ankle pain, and right shoulder pain on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder, status/post left total knee arthroplasty, and right knee osteoarthritis based on the evidence supporting a link to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis, a right knee condition (strain and osteoarthritis), and impingement syndrome of the left shoulder based on new and relevant evidence that was submitted.

The Board remands all service connection claims for further development and to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylolysis, loss of vertebral body height, and retrolisthesis; right knee strain residuals and osteoarthritis; left knee strain residuals and meniscal tear residuals; and obstructive sleep apnea.