Knee decisions — 2026

The Board denied higher initial evaluations for the Veteran's right and left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating effective July 25, 2010. The claim for PTSD and the right knee conditions are denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective from September 30, 2015 to May 10, 2023. The lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are denied for the respective periods, while the left foot disability receives a higher initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that there was no VA treatment or referral shown and concluding that the claim must be denied as a matter of law.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Veteran's right ankle and knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 50% for right knee limitation of extension from September 1, 2023 to June 24, 2024. Other issues related to instability and locking have also been addressed.

Service connection for a back condition is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is dismissed as the claim has already been granted with an effective date of April 26, 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 0 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular requirements for a TDIU from July 27, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the failure to consider additional evidence submitted after the initial rating decisions.,Service connection claims for a left knee disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and lower extremity neuropathies require further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, hypertension, a back condition, bilateral knee conditions, headaches, and a left shoulder condition were dismissed due to untimely appeals filed more than one year after the original denial.,The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for hypertension was also dismissed as it involved concurrent review elections that created multiple appeal streams.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from August 20, 2019. The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip disability, knee and shoulder pain, deep vein thrombosis, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and mental health conditions have rendered him unable to work since July 7, 2020. Effective July 7, 2020, he is granted a TDIU.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for SMC based on a need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD, as his disabilities do not render him helpless or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a posterior scalp cyst, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, headaches (migraines), varicose veins, and right calf pain need further development due to a lack of adequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck condition and right knee condition, and awarded a disability rating of 20 percent for thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities led to a TDIU effective January 23, 2016. The VA also granted Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 (DEA) for the same date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain is related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and right knee meniscal tear have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the left shoulder disability is also granted, but a remand is required to determine if it is secondary to the right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted. Service connection is established for PFB, but not earlier than February 7, 2022. GERD remains rated at 10 percent. The other conditions remain denied.