Knee decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, migraine headaches, and thoracolumbar spine disability. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The veteran's service connection for left and right knee disabilities is granted. The claim for bilateral foot condition is remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of multiple disorders due to errors in verifying the veteran's periods of service and character of service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. All other claims are denied.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot pain, insomnia, left hand pain, left knee pain, and right knee pain. The Board found that a remand is required to correct the AOJ's error to satisfy the regulatory duty to provide the Veteran with notice of her right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an April 2023 rating decision.

The appeal for prostate cancer was dismissed because it was already granted. The veteran's rating for a left foot disorder was restored to 20%. The appeals for higher ratings for the left foot and knee disorders were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, lumbosacral strain, right hip strain, and right knee strain due to missing military records and insufficient medical evidence.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee ACL reconstruction prior to May 14, 2014 was denied. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for right knee disability with limited extension beginning June 27, 2024 and a 20 percent rating for both meniscal pathology and instability beginning October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent from January 30, 2014 to November 9, 2021. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for this period. However, the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for his left knee disability and painful extension are remanded due to need for additional examination.

The veteran was granted a 10% disability rating for right knee osteoarthritis based on limitation of flexion from August 7, 2015. A separate compensable disability rating for the same condition based on limitation of extension was denied prior to December 18, 2023, but granted at 30% from that date onward.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder disability was initially diagnosed on August 15, 2023. The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection.,The Veteran's neurogenic bladder disability is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board found no evidence of a higher rating based on voiding dysfunction criteria.

The Board dismissed the issues related to a rating in excess of 10 percent for knee instability and the propriety of a rating reduction. It denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's knee condition.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for an increased rating of left knee conditions to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinion addressing the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

Service connection for the veteran's left knee strain and left wrist strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's right and left elbow disabilities, as well as his right and left knee disabilities, are being evaluated further.

The Board remanded all issues related to the veteran's knee, ankle, and foot disabilities for further examination.

The veteran was granted initial ratings for right and left knee strain, including meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, based on dislocated cartilage. The veteran was also granted an initial rating for right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis. However, the request for a higher rating for the right shoulder strain and residuals of total knee replacements were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right knee instability was remanded. The Board will reconsider the evidence, including a September 2024 VA-contract knee examination report and updated VA treatment records.