Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for endometriosis, hysterectomy, rheumatoid arthritis, and left knee locking due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces used for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused wear and tear to his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for the year 2022.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and left knee strain were granted service connection as they are considered to be directly related to her military service. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of sleep apnea, which was denied due to lack of evidence connecting it to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to back condition, right knee disability, migraines, and skin condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder, right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis, persistent instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage, or limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis, persistent instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage, or limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, increased ratings for right ankle tendonitis and bilateral pes planus due to a failure by the AOJ to provide notice of the right to a hearing.

The Veteran's left ankle strain is rated at 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis is rated at 10 percent due to three or less non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.,The Veteran's bilateral flat feet are rated at 30 percent, as they meet the criteria for severe bilateral flatfoot with objective evidence of marked deformity (pronation, abduction, etc.).,The Veteran's right hip strain does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to normal range of motion.,The Veteran's left knee painful scar and anterior patella scar status post meniscus/ACL repair do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are both rated at 10 percent (compensable).,The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal repair does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to flexion to no less than 100 degrees, locking, and pain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, IBS, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and lower back condition. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or a link between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is dismissed.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right knee condition, with a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability and GERD, made him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia post-arthroscopy is currently rated at 20% for limitation of flexion, 30% for limitation of extension, and 20% for instability. The Board has granted a 30% rating from March 21, 2024, for limitation of extension.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for the Veteran's claimed knee, foot, and ankle conditions. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right knee internal derangement with instability and joint space narrowing, tuberculosis, and an upper back/neck condition.,Service connection was granted for PTSD effective from August 31, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, neck disability, back disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to duty-to-assist errors identified during a Higher-Level Review (HLR). The Veteran is seeking service connection under the PACT Act for toxic exposures in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and hip bursitis, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The rating for bilateral hearing loss (BHL) is restored to 50% effective July 1, 2024.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's VR&E benefits and services application was not granted due to a lack of evidence in the claims file. The case is being remanded for further evaluation by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).

The Board denied increased ratings for right knee strain and left hip conditions, but granted restoration of a 10% rating for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome (extension) effective June 24, 2022. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip flexion and impairment were not supported by the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and left Achilles tendon rupture residuals on a direct basis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had onset in service.