Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for headaches secondary to PTSD with a persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia is granted.,The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30% from March 21, 2024 to April 8, 2024. The RO also granted a separate rating of 20% for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability and reduced the overall evaluation for right knee disability from 80% disabling to 60% disabling effective May 22, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's condition was not related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further adjudication due to new and relevant evidence received, which suggests that the Veteran's right knee DJD may be secondary to his service-connected left knee DJD.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic right knee disorder, finding that the current right knee strain is not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination in September 2021. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and low back disability are all found to be related to his service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA effective dates are being remanded due to the inextricability of these claims with his other service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must first adjudicate his left knee, low back, and RLE radiculopathy claims before addressing his TDIU and DEA earlier effective date claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus and left knee disability were aggravated during service, warranting service connection.,The Veteran's current left ankle disability is etiologically related to his in-service left ankle injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence of current disability and no medical diagnosis. The Veteran reported symptoms but there is no clinical evidence of a right knee condition in the record post-service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement residuals, strain residuals, and osteoarthritis have been granted service connection. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to March 2, 2025 has also been granted. However, a higher rating is denied on and after that date.

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

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal for various service-connected knee and hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left, right knee disabilities and a right ankle disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not required to seek treatment after service if she does not have access to VA resources.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hand, knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities due to inadequate rationale in the prior VA opinion regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the October 2024 decision denying service connection for right knee pain is flawed due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record of Reserve service. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination, complete military records, and provide an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left knee strain and instability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of their appeal.