Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for right total knee replacement and TDIU due to a lack of adequate evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's disability without considering the effects of medication.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Air Force Reserve and Wisconsin Air National Guard duty.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including left knee, TBI residuals, right ankle and foot disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, an increased initial rating for right knee strain, and an earlier effective date for service connection for right knee strain due to a concurrent election of review options.

The Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including osteoarthritis with meniscal tear, is dismissed because the appeal was found to be duplicative of an already pending appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, as well as the claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and TMJ with bruxism.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee condition has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date for TDIU, special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, and housebound status were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date available was June 19, 2015 for the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma with residual scars, psoriasis, and keratoacanthoma were granted service connection as they resulted from sun exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee conditions were denied as there was no evidence of compensable loss of range of motion, and the maximum available evaluation (20%) has already been assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and finds no evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle strain and left knee meniscus injury due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, left knee disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has determined that there is a pre-decisional error in the November 2020 rating decision regarding service connection for a right knee disability secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for a new VA examination and opinion to address whether her right knee disability is caused by or aggravated by her service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the Veteran's knee and low back disabilities, as well as his chondrocostal junction syndrome. The effective date for service connection awards is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur syndrome and degenerative changes to right first metatarsal head, degenerative joint disease with torn medial meniscus, right knee, and right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's appeals for Dependents' Educational Assistance and service connection were dismissed due to untimely filings.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, GERD, ankle sprains, knee sprains, and hearing loss, were also dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a left knee disorder due to potential notification errors regarding VA examinations.