Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip arthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis have been granted as they are found to be related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was restored to 20 percent effective October 31, 2024. Other claims were denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the functional impairment associated with his disability.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities from December 18, 2024. Her service-connected bilateral knee, left shoulder, and left elbow disabilities preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claimant is also awarded an initial rating of 30 percent for tension headaches.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims for entitlement to service connection for left hip condition and left knee condition during a hearing before the Board. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder, TBI, and migraine headaches were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to May 19, 2010.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain, and right knee arthritis were granted effective May 19, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination in determining his knee disabilities, specifically range of motion and instability.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and an initial rating of 20 percent for the left ankle disability. The cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee arthritis and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, spinal fusion, and anterior cervical discectomy are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds the February 2020 and January 2020 VA examinations insufficient as they did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication on his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral shin splints, and knee injuries, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 9, 2019. The Board has granted TDIU on this basis.

The Veteran's claim for SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) is denied as he does not have a single disability rated at the 100 percent level and his TDIU is based on multiple disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and migraine headaches, finding that there was no credible evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for left knee conditions, MDD, and a left knee disability; service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, PN, lumbar strain, and right knee strain; and entitlement to TDIU was denied. The appeal is dismissed as untimely.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to knee disabilities. The VA examiner's opinion is inadequate, and a new addendum opinion must be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility to the direct payment of fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a September 2023 Rating Decision was dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to a single disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had a single service-connected disability that rendered him unable to work. The issue of an effective date prior to July 15, 2009, for TDIU is dismissed as moot.