Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's left knee condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded his claims for rating increases for left and right knee disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and stomach conditions, but has remanded the right knee condition claim due to a lack of an adequate rationale in the prior medical opinion.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated 10% effective March 8, 2006. The appellant requested a higher rating and claimed clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the initial decision. The RO found CUE and granted a 10% rating for the left knee disability. However, due to an outstanding debt of $46,471.01, the appellant is not eligible for direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in September 2024.

The Veteran's right knee, lumbar spine, and radiculopathy disabilities are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Veteran's initial request for an increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis was granted, with a separate 10 percent rating assigned from September 8, 2025. The Veteran also received a grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis, generalized anxiety disorder, and left shoulder conditions. The claims of service connection for a right elbow condition with tear of the bicep muscle are remanded.

The Veteran is granted separate ratings of 30 percent for right knee limitation of flexion and extension, as well as a rating of 20 percent for right knee instability. The reduction in the Veteran's disability evaluation for her right knee scars was improper, and the 10 percent rating is restored.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, thoracolumbar strain, bilateral knee disabilities, and obesity.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, right ankle, and right foot disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 7, 2020 for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear due to incomplete medical opinions and a need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to untimely filing. The Board has not considered the evidence regarding these claims as they are outside of their jurisdiction.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and a left ankle condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and left knee disability are remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right ankle strain are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis, right ankle sprain, and allergic rhinitis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee strain disabilities, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to properly notify him of scheduled VA examinations. The RO is instructed to provide proper notification and schedule the Veteran for necessary medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The VA examiners provided rationales that speak to causation versus aggravation, and the Board finds both opinions to be inadequate.