Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has restored a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right total knee arthroplasty, effective April 1, 2021, as the evidence did not show material improvement in the disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of a right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, as well as a left knee disability (osteoarthritis), finding that these conditions are the result of the appellant's military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any other basis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for reactive airway disease was dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal. The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee tendinosis and ganglion cyst was granted.

The Veteran's left tibia and right knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent prior to July 13, 2020. As of July 13, 2020, the Veteran is now entitled to a rating of 30 percent for each disability.,The Board found that the Veteran's left tibia and right knee disabilities warranted a 30 percent rating as of July 13, 2020 due to limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and hand conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing disability (including bilateral hearing loss and bilateral hyperacusis) and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her exposure to toxic substances during active duty.,

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has also remanded the cases of pes planus, post-operative right heel enthesophyte with spur, and right knee arthritis due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability may be related to his service-connected right ankle disability and has ordered a VA examination to determine if this relationship exists.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records, specifically those related to the Veteran's periods of active duty with the Air Force Reserve and Montana Air National Guard. The VA is instructed to verify these periods and obtain any associated service documentation.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from December 23, 2014 to December 26, 2019 due to service-connected knee disorders and back disability. The effective date is set at December 23, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee conditions are rated at 10 percent disabling for limitation of flexion and noncompensable for limitation of extension. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for instability.,The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 30 percent rating for PTSD was granted. The claims for higher ratings for right knee PFPS, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome (bursitis), and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome based on limitation of flexion were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee tendinitis was granted with an effective date of September 25, 2024.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for abrasion chondroplasty trochlea, left knee; fat pad destroyed/removed, left knee; left knee medial and lateral maltracking; and left knee trochlea I and II synovectomy, finding that these conditions were not incurred or caused by his active service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 26, 2019 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected mental health and knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and neck condition based on the evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his dementia, which is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as there was no new and relevant evidence to support the claims.,The Veteran's claim for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis was granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are related to service due to hard landings during deployment in Vietnam.,The Veteran's claim for right knee degenerative arthritis was also granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are related to service due to hard landings and activities as a crew member during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, left knee strain, and left meniscal tear due to inadequate VA examinations that did not discount the beneficial effects of pain medications. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination.