Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's request for a higher disability rating for both right and left knee strains, concluding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claim for a low back condition was denied. The claims for bilateral knee condition and tinea pedis were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and increased ratings for left knee conditions were denied. Claims for right knee condition, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU were remanded.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. Other conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for erectile dysfunction and surgical scar was denied. A 10% rating was granted for right hip thigh impairment with degenerative arthritis. Claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and left knee disability were remanded.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. All other claims were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion and making further efforts to obtain better copies of the Veteran's service personnel records.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for back pain due to insufficient evidence linking either condition to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain with limitation of flexion as secondary to the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis, as the evidence did not show extension limited to 20 degrees or greater during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an initial rating for various conditions due to incomplete records.

The Board granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The Board also granted an initial 50 percent evaluation from February 1, 2019 to October 31, 2021 for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but denied a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disorders for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings for his right and left knee surgical scars, finding no objective evidence of painful or unstable scars.

The Board granted service connection for a back, right hip, right knee, and GERD disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition and right knee condition, as the current evidence is inadequate to determine whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board granted service connection for a vertical left paralumbar area scar and denied service connection for a back disability other than the left paralumbar area scar, as well as denying a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee TKR, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee recurrent subluxation, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease, status post surgery, as the current evidence is inadequate for review.