Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his PTSD as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation. For his right knee and left knee disabilities, he is not entitled to a higher rating than 10%. However, he is granted a 30% rating for his right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, sinusitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee scar, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all being reviewed.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of right shoulder rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain, rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of left shoulder rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain, rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of right knee rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of left knee rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of dry eye syndrome, residual of Sjögren's syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the VA examination reports and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and failure to notify the Veteran of the decision, requiring a new determination on eligibility for PCAFC benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and a left knee condition were dismissed due to the untimely filing of the appeal forms.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the current condition is at least as likely as not related to the service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection is granted for right knee pain resulting in functional impairment and bilateral shoulder pain resulting in functional impairment.,The Veteran's vision disorder (including hyperopia and astigmatism) is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee dislocated semi-lunar cartilage is denied as he has the maximum allowed rating. The claims for higher ratings of his right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of January 1, 2025. The Board granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted effective May 5, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the evidence did not establish an in-service injury and that any current knee disability was not related to service.,Service connection was granted for right and left ankle conditions. The Veteran testified that he experienced pain in both ankles during service and continued to experience symptoms after separation.

The Veteran's diabetes is being remanded for a new VA medical opinion to address the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his diagnosed diabetes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that it is secondary to her service-connected left knee disability. The evidence shows that the Veteran injured both knees in 1999 and continued to experience pain despite treatment.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is related to service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The claims for back pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, and headaches are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is found to have originated in service and continues today, warranting service connection.,The Veteran's left ankle disorder was first noted during active duty and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain based on direct evidence of in-service onset and persistence.