Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to moderate limitation of motion.,For her shin splints, RLE (Right Lower Extremity) with knee strain, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis is remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 8, 2025, for the awards of service connection for right and left knee strains are granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's authorized representative withdrawing the entire appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, residuals of a left knee injury, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea on a secondary basis were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. Claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine pain, left shoulder tendinitis (from August 9, 2023), left wrist sprain, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral hips, bilateral knees, and cervical spine due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for right knee meniscal tear and patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, back disability, left hip disabilities based on impairment of the thigh and limitation of extension, and right knee disability have been restored with respective ratings. The right knee disability has also been granted service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left knee disorders as secondary to her service-connected asthma, insomnia disorder with major depressive disorder. The decision is based on evidence that obesity, which was an intermediate step in causing these conditions, resulted from her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee, right knee, and neck disabilities are all granted as service-connected.,PTSD with traumatic brain injury is granted for an initial rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's right knee condition, rhinitis, and erectile dysfunction are granted with specific disability ratings. However, the Board has remanded several issues including service connection for groin pain, increased rating for hemorrhagic prostatitis, eczema, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, sinusitis, rhinitis, and IBS have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 30 percent disability rating for his IBS. However, the Veteran's requests for increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD remains pending and requires further review due to insufficient verification of the claimed stressor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of OSA, hypertension, and bilateral knee conditions.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 50 percent for OSA and 10 percent for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a current bladder disorder diagnosis. Other issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for stroke, hypertension, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthrosis with trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip were granted effective August 5, 2024.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to warrant readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The RO should conduct any development deemed necessary and then readjudicate the claims in the first instance.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee arthropathy, right knee replacement residuals, and right hip degenerative disease due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's active service included multiple jumps as a paratrooper and exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.