Knee decisions — 2025

The Board's September 4, 2025 decision was vacated due to a failure to address clear and unmistakable error arguments, depriving the Veteran of due process.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg disability, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability as there is no evidence of a current disability during the period on appeal or approximate thereto.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis for the period on appeal prior to October 7, 2024, but denied ratings in excess of 40 percent for these conditions. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for instability in both knees.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for the veteran's left knee and back disabilities, but granted a 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion from August 4, 2014 to September 24, 2024, and a 30 percent rating for a back disability from August 16, 2019.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including consideration of additional evidence and readjudication by the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a right knee disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee conditions due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board remands the claims for a low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability to obtain new VA medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's lay reports of onset, in-service treatment, and continued symptomatology.

The appeals for service connection and TDIU were dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, a right ear disorder other than hearing loss and tinnitus, an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, an initial compensable rating for asthma, and various other conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disability or no relationship to service.

The appeal for service connection for an eye disorder and a right knee disorder was dismissed as the claims were not adjudicated in the modernized system.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability and denied claims for secondary service connection for major depressive disorder and a back condition.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee DJD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, psoriasis, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and various other injuries and conditions claimed by the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for hammer toes, bilateral pes planus, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee and left shoulder disabilities, except for a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain with joint osteoarthritis, left knee strain with joint osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the lumbar spine back disability, as the evidence did not show symptoms productive of total occupational and social impairment or greater severity.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee degenerative joint disease (status post total knee replacement), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (status post cervical surgery), and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (status post lumbar surgery) based on evidence that these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board denied service connection for colon cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer. The Veteran was granted a 20% rating for right knee osteoarthritis status post meniscectomy with instability or subluxation and a 10% rating for a right knee scar.