Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various disorders, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and disorders of the back, neck, right and left knee, and right and left feet, as there was no evidence to show that the Veteran has been diagnosed or treated for any of these disorders at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for right foot condition and left knee disability, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions. The depressive disorder claim was remanded for further development.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of flexion from September 4, 2020 and denied an effective date earlier than May 13, 2022 for the 20 percent rating for right knee limitation of flexion.

The veteran withdrew all appeals before the Board, and the appeal is dismissed.

The veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision was made, and therefore the appeal is dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, GERD, and a right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for nephrolithiasis and denied or remanded the other issues.

The Board granted an increased rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's total left and right knee replacements associated with degenerative joint disease, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension from January 31, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The other issues, including service connection for various conditions, were remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of November 16, 2021, for the grant of service connection for cervical strain and various right knee conditions.

The Board denied service connection for depression, a lumbar spine condition, and a cervical spine condition. The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder and tinnitus were also denied. Additionally, the Board denied ratings in excess of 70 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder, service connection for vitamin D deficiency, and increased ratings for various knee conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities and an etiology opinion for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left heel non-healing ulcer and osteomyelitis, left below-the-knee amputation, right hand Dupuytren's contracture and trigger finger, and left hand Dupuytren's contracture and trigger finger to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee condition, and foot conditions, preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain as the July 2023 VA medical opinions are found to be inadequate.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, as well as left knee strain status post arthroscopic surgery, right knee strain status post arthroscopic surgery, and lumbosacral strain with IVDS, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral hip disabilities, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the service connection claim for a right knee condition due to the need for a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee strain with osteoarthritis as a new VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his time in service or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.