Knee decisions — 2025

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded. Other claims are denied.

The veteran's PTSD and major depression have been rated at 100% from July 14, 2022. The veteran also qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate starting August 17, 2022.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for several conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and various disabilities. The decision was based on the need to correct errors in the original decision and to retrieve missing service records.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for several conditions were denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board remanded the case to obtain more medical records and schedule a new examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral knee disorders to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete rationale in previous VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee patellar bursitis is rated at 20% for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability, 20% for frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion, and 30% for limitation of extension. The initial rating higher than 10% for limitation of flexion remains denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disc disease was granted. Effective dates earlier than January 10, 2012, for RIGHT knee osteoarthritis and residuals of a RIGHT first toe distal phalanx fracture were denied. An effective date of July 7, 2009, for urticaria (hives) was granted. Issues related to service connection for a cervical spine disorder and initial ratings for several conditions were remanded.

The Board denied higher ratings for the veteran's right knee strain and instability, but granted a separate 20% rating for right knee locking and a 10% rating for neurological impairment associated with the right hand disability.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 30 percent each since March 19, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been reopened, and the Board is remanding this issue.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee instability and left knee instability (on the basis of limitation of flexion) have also been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is related to her in-service right leg injury, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of secondary service connection for a right lower extremity nerve/vascular disorder, to include residuals of deep vein thrombosis, as secondary to service-connected right shin splint, is remanded.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings and TDIU. The Veteran's right knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to insufficient examination findings, failure to consider lay statements regarding onset of symptoms, and lack of a completed VA Form 21-8940. The TDIU claim is also remanded as the Veteran's spouse recently passed away.

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral shin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are now service-connected. The effective date for the right knee disability is January 20, 2016, while the effective date for the increased rating of the psychiatric disorder remains at January 20, 2016. A TDIU was granted effective May 31, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, thoracic spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome (right wrist), carpal tunnel syndrome (left wrist), and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The left knee disability was rated as 10% disabling, while the right knee disability remained noncompensable.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, back pain, GERD, migraines, and bilateral knee pain due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The VA must obtain VA examinations to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and provide medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's disabilities are directly related to service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. All other issues are remanded for further review.