Knee decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding a current disability and credible reports of in-service symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral flatfoot, right knee bursitis, left knee bursitis, migraine headaches, and tinea pedis. However, it denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 60 percent for a total knee replacement effective October 1, 2023. An initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and 20 percent ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis was denied, as well as the TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date than February 24, 2021 for the award of a 20 percent rating for left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, insomnia disorder, and a compensable rating for traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and remanded the claims for hysterectomy, gynecological adhesions, recurrent urinary tract infections, bilateral knee disabilities, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, hallux valgus, lumbar spine disability, lower extremity sciatica, and dermatitis due to a duty to assist error.

The Board granted the restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for left knee strain, finding that the AOJ's reduction was improper and void ab initio.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right leg shin splints, and left leg shin splints due to a duty to assist error.

The Board remands the claims for an effective date prior to February 12, 2021, for service connection of right and left knee instability as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria due to an inadequate medical examination report.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition, including patellar tendinitis with underlying patellofemoral pain syndrome, as the evidence did not support that it began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms began during her active duty and have persisted since then.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and knee disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral knee condition and GERD, secondary to medications taken for the service-connected bilateral knee condition.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied increased ratings for right knee strain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and left varicocele. The claim for special monthly compensation was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty as secondary to PTSD with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, ear disability (other than tinnitus), and erectile dysfunction as the evidence did not support current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the left little finger disability and remanded claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood with TBI, denied a higher rating for this condition, granted a 20% rating for right knee degenerative joint disease status-post plateau fracture with multiple surgeries, and denied a higher rating for the right ankle disability.