Knee decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for Crohn's disease and denied service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and low back condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disability, granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right knee osteochondritis dissecans, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear s/p ACL reconstruction, and denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent ratings for left knee arthritis (flexion), left knee strain arthritis (extension), and left knee instability, as well as a 20 percent rating for left ankle chronic sprain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the disabilities, and no evidence that the disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board granted service connection for status post left total knee arthroplasty, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a respiratory condition (COPD), and a right knee condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee replacement conditions. However, the Board granted a 10 percent rating for the left knee scar and a 30 percent rating for the lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for left knee limited flexion and a 20 percent evaluation for left knee instability, but denied an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, recurrent right and left shoulder rotator cuff tear residuals, right and left total knee replacement residuals, and right and left foot plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for kidney disease, GERD, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral arm condition. The TDIU claim was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis with bipartite patella, finding that the pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service. The claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile allowance was granted, while several other claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board also denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted an effective date of August 9, 2022, for the award of service connection for polycythemia vera and remanded claims related to right big toe disability, right knee disability, chronic fatigue, and a compensable evaluation for polycythemia vera.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, effective immediately. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for left knee tendonitis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and degenerative joint disease based on limitation of flexion from October 4, 2024, to the present, and a 50 percent rating for the same condition from February 5, 2025, to the present.

The Board granted service connection for right knee gout and a rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's right wrist condition, while remanding several other issues related to his knees and instability.

The Veteran withdrew all service connection claims for a left knee, right knee, and left foot and/or left ankle disability.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee chondromalacia under Diagnostic Code 5258, effective January 4, 2001.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability based on limitation of flexion and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right knee disability based on limitation of extension due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current osteoarthritis.