Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip strain and right knee strain, as well as remanded issues related to a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and prior to August 3, 2022, entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a mental health disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendinitis, but granted service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restored a 20 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder, while denying service connection for hypersomnia and respiratory disorders. The Board also granted increased ratings for migraines and left and right knee strains.

The Board granted a 70 percent initial rating for persistent depressive disorder and remanded the claim for service connection for right knee pain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a low back condition to obtain additional evidence and an adequate VA opinion.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 26, 2018, for the grant of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis based on a line of duty determination added to the claims file in February 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding that no evidence supported an earlier date of claim or entitlement.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and right testicle disabilities to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied increased ratings for TMJ dysfunction with arthritis, cervical strain (neck disability), lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with arthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, tension headaches, and left thigh impairment. However, a 20 percent rating was granted for left lower radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Board granted an effective date of April 30, 2022, for the award of service connection for a left knee disability and right knee disability.

The Board denied an effective date prior to August 30, 2023, for a 30 percent rating for both the left knee arthritis and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis under the PACT Act and remanded other claims for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and chronic bronchitis, but granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and sinusitis. The claims for hypertension, gout (left foot/toe, right foot/toe, left ankle, right ankle), and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for an eye/vision disorder, a sinus disorder, right and left knee disorders, and a disorder manifested by loose teeth.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, right shoulder disability, neck disability, right knee disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral elbow disabilities as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year following discharge from active duty, and the current conditions are not related to any aspect of service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and anxiety, finding the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating of PTSD and remanded claims for increased ratings for left ankle and knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and a low back condition, restored the 30 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with Baker's cyst disability, and remanded several other claims.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability and tinnitus, resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran.