Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is due to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left knee disabilities are granted, but her left wrist disability is denied. The Board finds a remand necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error before adjudicating the service connection for left knee disability.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the 'L' rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to the Veteran's service-connected left knee replacement disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were rated at various levels prior to September 1, 2024. The ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with limitation of flexion and left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis with limitation of extension were reduced from their previous levels effective September 1, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence is remanded as the VA examination was conducted too soon after surgery, and relevant records are missing.

The Board has determined that there were procedural errors in the service connection decisions for stroke and right knee condition, specifically regarding the need for medical opinions on exposure to toxic substances. The claims are being remanded to obtain these necessary opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, neck strain, and right knee arthritis. The claim for residuals of heat stroke is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and instability, is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent effective October 21, 2024. The claim for an increased rating for left knee instability remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity and nature of his condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, anxiety and depression, bilateral knee pain, and lower back pain as they are already decided in another appeal stream.

The appeals for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and plantar fasciitis are dismissed due to procedural defects.,Service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, liver cancer, left elbow disorder, left wrist disorder, left hip disorder, and bilateral big toe disorders (claimed as arthritis) are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his principal cause of death, cardiopulmonary arrest. As such, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for boils/staph, left elbow joints inflammation, erectile dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left knee strain, and right knee strain as they were withdrawn before a hearing could take place.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of extension, and left knee limitations were denied. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for right knee instability and left knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and obesity.,However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is denied as it does not result in functional impairment independent of her other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection. The claims for left knee, right shoulder, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for right knee osteoarthritis and right knee scar due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded several claims due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including for new VA medical opinions on right wrist and knee conditions, right foot condition, right ankle condition, erectile dysfunction, GERD, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, dry eye syndrome, lumbar spine condition, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee arthritis on a direct basis, but denied service connection for left sacroiliac joint disability as it is not separate from the Veteran's already service-connected back and radiculopathy disabilities.,The VA examiner found no diagnosis of a separate sacroiliac joint disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right knee Osgood Schlatter's disease were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for left and right knee patella tendonitis.