Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee strain but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability.

The appeals for service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's untimely and improper submission of a VA Form 10182.

The Board remands the claim for a VA knee examination to determine the severity of the service-connected right total knee replacement residuals.

The Board denied service connection for left hand, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities as the evidence did not support an in-service incurrence or nexus to military service.

The Board remands the claim for a right knee condition to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's in-service injury and providing a rationale.

The Board denied service connection for all the conditions claimed by the Veteran, as there was no evidence of a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including left and right knee disorders, hypertension, left hand, foot, leg, and arm disorders, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 21, 2019, for the grants of service connection for spinal stenosis associated with intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee tendinitis. The claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria was denied.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral foot disability, knee disability, ankle disability, cervical degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, and cervicalgia, secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain, as well as GERD. The claims of readjudication were also granted.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing disorder, dry eye disorder, and urinary disorder. Tinnitus was granted, but the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee degenerative joint disease with instability, right shoulder bicipital tendonitis, and left shoulder bicipital tendonitis do not warrant increased ratings.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 1, 2023, for the award of service connection for left knee strain and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hallux valgus, right and left femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee strain, cervical strain, right shoulder strain, and dyspnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and right knee strain to correct pre-decisional errors in failing to obtain adequate medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted an effective date of October 8, 2016, for the award of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve and denied a higher initial rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for service-connected left knee strain and remanded the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to August 13, 2020 for the assignment of a 40 percent disability rating for service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent and a compensable rating for the service-connected right knee conditions to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for right knee strain and left knee strain were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), to include gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD); left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome; and left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities.