Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for chronic back pain and knee instability, left. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (GAD with night terrors) is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, and right ankle disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's low back condition is proximately due to or the result of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and cervical spine conditions based on their direct relationship to his active military service.

The Veteran's dizziness is granted as due to an undiagnosed illness, while his left ankle condition and skin condition are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee strains, residuals of a left ankle concussion, and bilateral pes cavus are found to be related to his obstructive sleep apnea. His claim for restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to functional loss not adequately addressed in the June 2021 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle, leg, and tibia fracture disabilities are not service-connected as they did not onset during active duty or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset during active service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied as she did not have an employment handicap and was found to be employable with her current skills, experience, and education. The appeal must be denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle, bilateral knee, and left hip disability. The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left thigh strain with limitation of flexion is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability did not increase in severity during service and was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by any injury or event in service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the right knee disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Meniere's syndrome, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to provide VA examinations. The Veteran is presumed to have incurred these disabilities during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee scars have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, bilateral hearing loss, Type II diabetes, bilateral glaucoma, OSA, cervical disc herniation, and other musculoskeletal issues are denied.,Service connection is not established for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee condition due to inadequate medical opinion in the June 2024 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the permanent loss of use of his left foot and upper right extremity, allowing for entitlement to an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.