Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension have been granted service connection. The Board has remanded the remaining claims for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher initial ratings, finding that the appropriate effective dates were June 6, 2022, for erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, and June 1, 2021, for tension headaches. The right knee strain was granted an initial 10 percent rating with an earlier effective date of June 1, 2021, and GERD was denied any higher initial rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to appeal the May 12, 2023 rating decision that granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for lumbar spine DDD, left heel injury, and right knee injury. The reasons given were that the appeals were not timely filed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of functional loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left knee strain, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder strain on a direct basis.,Service connection was granted for left knee strain, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder strain on a direct basis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his right ankle and knee disabilities are denied. The low back disability claim has no current diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to insufficient information in the medical opinions provided. The AOJ will obtain an opinion from a VA clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to an in-service injury or caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a complete medical examination and consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are as likely as not related to her active-duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the appellant's claims for GERD and a left knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to consider all relevant evidence, and potential participation in toxic exposure risk activities. A new examination is required under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremity neuropathies are granted, presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.,Service connection for bilateral feet condition is denied as there is no separate diagnosis outside of the already service-connected right and left lower extremity neuropathy disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the current condition and in-service combat injuries. The Veteran's current right knee strain was considered presumptively service-connected due to arthritis, but continuity of symptomology from within one year of discharge could not be established.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total rating following right knee surgery on June 10, 2019 was denied as the surgery was a revision of a previous total knee replacement performed in 2016. The criteria for a TTR under DC 5055 were not met.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's eligibility to specially adapted housing (SAH) is granted due to his permanent and total disability involving both lower extremities, which precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices. The appeal for special home adaptation (SHA) is dismissed as it is rendered moot by the grant of SAH.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus.,The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with DDD and spondylosis, right knee sprain with residual mild chronic tendonitis and early osteoarthritis, and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, including an ACL tear and internal derangement, as well as his right fifth finger fracture, is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating in excess of 0 percent for residuals of the right fifth finger proximal phalanx fracture is remanded.