Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for depression, bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability as new and relevant evidence was not received.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to increased evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities as well as pseudofolliculitis barbae due to an error in providing notice of a personal hearing.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to a failure by the RO to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board has granted the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus with arthritis and right knee disability, finding new evidence sufficient to readjudicate these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and right knee strain due to inadequate opinions regarding causation and aggravation. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective January 3, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for right knee ankylosis due to the absence of evidence showing a current disability and no nexus between the claimed injury in service and any current condition.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no onset during service and insufficient medical opinion linking it to noise exposure.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion, with the right knee receiving separate ratings for flexion and extension issues. The left knee is rated solely for loss of extension.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral total knee replacements due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset and relation to active service.

The Board has granted the service connection claims for cervical spine, left knee, and right hip disabilities due to new evidence received after the April 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied because the evidence did not show he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities, nor was he permanently bedridden. The Board found that while the Veteran had difficulty with medication management and some activities, he could still bathe/shower, eat, dress, etc., without assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment after his last date of employment on March 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from March 31, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between service, specifically jump events during service, and current right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, neck disability, Barrett's esophagus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Additional development is required.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 26, 2023 for the awards of service connection for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as well as external popliteal radiculopathy. The Veteran's left knee strain and patellar instability have also been awarded an effective date of July 26, 2023.,An initial 50 percent rating has been granted for migraines.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right hip disabilities, heart condition, knee disabilities, residuals of heat stroke (including TBI and cognitive defect), and migraine headaches. The reasons provided include a lack of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for ankylosis in knee, right, tinnitus, and migraines (headaches) due to duty exposure during service. The Veteran's statements about symptoms align with how her current disabilities are known to develop.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder status post-replacement, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea. The conditions are found to be directly attributable to active duty service.