Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected back condition, left knee degenerative joint disease status post arthroscopic repair, and right knee meniscal tear with arthroscopic repair.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on two conditions have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate due to not addressing all contended stressors and secondary service connection theories. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, sleep disturbances, a right knee disability, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, allergic rhinitis, and patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis in the left knee. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and degenerative joint disease right knee, both related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding his left knee, right knee condition, and coronary artery disease require further examination and medical opinion due to a lack of a VA examination in connection with these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements about his knee pain.

The Board has determined that the most recent rating decision on the merits, issued in October 2024, requires correction due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The claim for service connection for a right knee condition is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, cervical spine disability, respiratory insufficiency, and irritable bowel syndrome was denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his lumbar spine spondylosis and left knee degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for further development regarding his right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition (as secondary to left knee condition), right knee condition (as secondary to left knee condition), posttraumatic stress disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected disabilities with obesity as an intermediary step).,The Board found the evidence persuasive in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder arthritis and right knee arthritis are granted service connection as they began during active service or resulted from in-service injuries.

The September 2006 rating decision denied service connection for a fractured femur and granted service connection for a right knee injury, attributing the latter to permanent aggravation of an existing condition during service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and disc herniation are granted service connection as they are related to his military service. His Crohn's disease and right knee disorder do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his service-connected left knee, back, and bilateral foot disabilities. The decision grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain his complete service personnel records and service treatment records, which were received prior to the issuance of the decision on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left elbow condition and the severity of his right knee condition, taking into account the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has vacated the portion of its January 20, 2026 decision that denied an earlier effective date for TDIU and granted restoration of TDIU from October 1, 2017. The effective date remains February 13, 2019.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is being remanded for further review.,The Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities are also being remanded for further review.