Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and right knee strain due to a failure to schedule an informal conference as requested by the Veteran. The AOJ is instructed to follow through on its promise to contact the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than the specified dates have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain missing service treatment records for the Veteran's initial period of active duty from September 1969 to May 1971. The AOJ must make reasonable efforts to locate these records and provide copies of any found.

The Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease, right knee is granted service connection. The left knee condition remains under review and remanded.

Service connection for a left ankle disability is granted, while service connection for other joint disorders (including cervical spine, back, and shoulder) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various gout disabilities in his lower extremities due to inadequate medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is now rated at 40 percent effective November 7, 2010. The claim for increased evaluation of the right knee strain has been granted with a 10 percent initial evaluation effective May 2, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, have rendered him unemployable since at least 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 12, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, but denied service connection for right hip and right knee conditions due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, sleep apnea, a left knee disability, and an upper back disability have been denied. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and likely cause of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee instability, and left knee instability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's separation examination noted fallen arches in his feet.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at a 10 percent rating, effective June 28, 2017. The decision grants the requested increase in ratings for both knees.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals regarding the service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee conditions.

The appellant's TDIU claim is granted, and his left eye disability rating remains at 30 percent. The effective date for the increased rating of the left knee disability under DC 5260 is set to June 9, 2017. The issues regarding the left knee flexion and arthroscopy scar are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his lumbar spine, right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as of December 2024 VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia with arthritis, status post patella tendon rupture repair, is currently evaluated at 10 percent for painful motion. A separate 20 percent evaluation has been granted for moderate perceived instability. The Veteran's right knee subluxation and patellofemoral pain syndrome are also currently evaluated at 10 percent for painful motion, with a separate 20 percent evaluation for moderate perceived instability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted due to worsening symptoms. The VA examiner found the current severity of the condition without medication effects.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee strain are granted. The claim for hemorrhoids is denied.