Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran is in need of personal care services due to his disabilities, and remands for an evaluation on whether participation in the PCAFC program would be in his best interest.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability or other specific conditions such as gout, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, or right ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of various conditions, including cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, facial scar, left foot condition, right foot condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent evaluation for left knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder aggravated by prostate cancer is granted. The claim for increased rating for erectile dysfunction is denied, and the claims for right ankle disability, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and right knee strain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding inadequate opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right hip degenerative joint disease, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve problem. The issues related to right knee degenerative arthritis are also remanded as they are intertwined with the IVDS claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel and ulnar neuropathy, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis have been granted a 30 percent disability rating effective April 5, 2022. The Veteran has also been awarded TDIU from August 28, 2012, and basic eligibility for DEA benefits based on permanent and total disability status.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis (claimed as right knee injury in a fall), and left knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis (claimed as left knee chronic pain) are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee strain and lumbosacral strain were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee instability, right elbow limitation of flexion, and right elbow limitation of extension are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The claims for left knee strain and right knee strain are dismissed, while the claim for flatfoot, bilateral is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The left elbow disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, bilateral knee disorder, right ankle disorder, right foot disorder, right elbow disorder, and bilateral wrist disorder were all denied.

The Veteran's right foot sprain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been granted initial disability ratings. Service connection has also been established for generalized anxiety disorder, a right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a retrospective examination to consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back conditions have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, while the left and right lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment from January 1, 2017 to May 16, 2018.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as they did not meet the criteria for such an increase.