Knee decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor that his tinnitus had its onset during military service. The claims for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to tinnitus were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as an earlier effective date for a granted condition.

The Board denied service connection for brain tumor, left knee instability, and left ear scar. However, it granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee meniscectomy.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain, right knee arthritis status post ligament repair with limitation of flexion, and a compensable rating for right knee arthritis status post ligament repair with removal of cartilage to obtain a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities without the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right and left knee total arthroplasty to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities without considering the ameliorative effects of pain medication.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, solar lentigines, and acne as manifestations of a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI), while denying an increased rating for PTSD with residuals of traumatic brain injury. The Board also granted initial ratings for migraine and tension headaches, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded claims for service connection for hepatitis C, shin splints, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the Veteran's left knee arthroplasty but granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee pain, as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and neck disability to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis and denied it for right knee strain.

The Board granted service connection for a left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service as an airborne soldier.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, right knee disability, and left ankle disability. The claims for a right ankle and left knee disability were remanded for further development.

The Board granted the attorney's appeal for eligibility to the payment of fees based on past-due benefits from a February 2024 decision that assigned a higher disability rating for GERD, but denied it for the right knee meniscal impairment.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left knee disability, and a low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence collection, including obtaining records from a civilian orthopedist and Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center, as well as scheduling examinations to address Meniere's Disease and dysautonomia.

The claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and left ankle strain are remanded due to inadequate VA compensation examination reports.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition, both diagnosed as osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus was granted, while the claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radicular pain and knee pain were remanded.