Knee decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, as well as for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including eye disability, foot pain, stomach disability, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and non-compensable ratings for post traumatic headaches, right lower extremity scars, tympanic membrane perforation, right knee tendinopathy, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee, back, right hip, right elbow, and neck disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for new medical examinations and nexus opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, right and left shoulder disorders, lower back disorder, right and left ankle disorders, acquired mental disorder, to include anxiety and insomnia, and erectile dysfunction due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance, both effective February 28, 2023. The claims for increased evaluations of the right knee were dismissed.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, left knee degenerative arthritis, and migraines, but denied a compensable rating for migraines.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected left knee disability.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating from December 5, 2015, to February 24, 2019, for right and left knee replacement scar residuals but denied a compensable rating prior to that date and a rating in excess of 20 percent on and after February 25, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU from February 17, 2005, to October 26, 2012.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cellulitis and remanded claims for allergic rhinitis, eczema, bilateral keratoconus, sinusitis, and knee conditions due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. However, it restored the 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain effective October 31, 2023.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for GERD and hypertension, denied service connection for hernia and migraine headaches, denied a higher rating for GERD/IBS, denied a compensable rating for hypertension, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to a service-connected mental health disorder.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee and hip conditions, except for a 50 percent rating from November 29, 2019, for right hip status post arthroplasty and a similar rating for left hip status post arthroplasty. The effective date for service connection of scars on the knees and hips was set to May 17, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for palmer/plantar hyperkeratosis, a right knee disability, and status post left total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The claim for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae was granted, while the claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition and compensable ratings for surgical scars were also denied.

The Board granted service connection for non-allergic rhinitis on a presumptive basis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Board granted an effective date before April 18, 2023, for a 100 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder and an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability. The sinusitis claim was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back, neck, and right knee conditions to correct a pre-decisional error in obtaining adequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection and rating assigned for left knee disabilities is granted as August 10, 2010.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The other issues of service connection for left hip, shoulder, knee, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee strain to obtain a new examination with sufficient rationale.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to properly develop the Veteran's claimed contentions regarding his military service.