Knee decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and big toe disorders, finding no causal relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic left knee pain or arthritis during service and no causal relationship to an in-service injury. The Veteran's current conditions are considered direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions, as well as a rating greater than 30 percent for migraines from March 17, 2016 to April 22, 2021. The issues of service connection for bilateral ankle, digestive, skin, bilateral shin splints, respiratory conditions, entitlement to TDIU and SMC based on housebound status were remanded.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU due to these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability did not meet the criteria for SMC at the 'K' rate due to loss of use of the leg, as his range of motion and ability to ambulate were sufficient.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee strain and Osgood-Schlatter's disease, finding that these conditions had their onset during service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's left knee disability claim. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's low back strain is rated at 40 percent, and the issues of IBS and CFS are dismissed. The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder with a major depressive episode do not meet criteria for a higher rating. Service connection is granted for cervical strain and right knee pain.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to have its onset during active-duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder status post reverse total arthroplasty is caused by his service-connected bilateral knee and neck disabilities, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of atrial fibrillation, paralysis of the median nerve (right hand carpal tunnel), and bilateral knee disability. Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with Intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for left knee instability have been denied, with the most recent rating of 20 percent from April 16, 2024.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine if any of his claimed disabilities are related to service. The issues include neck, low back, hip, knee, ankle, foot, joint pain, sleep condition, lung, gastrointestinal, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes, deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 7, 2012 to February 8, 2025 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits for the same period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout of the right knee, left knee, right toes, left foot, and right wrist. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease resulted in functional loss due to pain, instability, and required the use of a walker. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that continuity of symptomatology existed since service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and allergic rhinitis due to errors in how they were initially adjudicated.