Knee decisions — 2025

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claim for service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia was remanded.

The veteran's appeal for direct payment of agent fees was granted, but the issue of whether the amount of fees awarded is reasonable was remanded.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for gout in the hands and feet were denied. However, the veteran was granted a 30% rating for both right and left foot gout and TDIU. The claims for service connection for knee disorders were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of right and left knee limitations was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for right and left knee instability under DC 5257, finding that the Veteran's bilateral knee instabilities resulted in slight disability pictures rather than moderate.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all issues related to increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome based on limitation of flexion, instability, and extension.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to November 30, 2016 was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability and a left knee disability, but dismissed the claims for bronchial asthma and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability effective April 20, 2023.

The Board dismissed the legacy appeal for three issues related to cervical spondylosis and right knee degenerative arthritis due to a valid opt-in by the Veteran to the AMA review system.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, GERD, residuals of total left knee replacement, residuals of bilateral hip replacement, and low back DISH syndrome. The Veteran's reports regarding the onset and development of these conditions during or shortly after his military service are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for left knee disability and secondary service connection. The Veteran's representative provided new arguments, and the examiner did not consider these in their opinion.

The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for left knee strain and lumbar spine disability, as well as TDIU, due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to parachute jumps during active duty rather than any in-service injury.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a new opinion on service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an adequate VA examination or medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's tibia and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) and potential prejudice to the Veteran. The TDIU claim for prior to January 11, 2019 is now pending.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU prior to April 3, 2014 and from February 1, 2016 to August 9, 2022 due to service-connected PTSD and bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to July 23, 2024 and denied for ratings in excess of 70 percent thereafter. Service connection for right and left knee disabilities are both denied.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right knee osteoarthritis manifesting in limitation of extension from August 3, 2023 onward. The Veteran's other claims were denied.