Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating of 20 percent for right knee tendinopathy status post right ACL tear with knee instability, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus have all been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective February 28, 2022. The effective date for DEA benefits is being remanded to consider whether it should be earlier than January 15, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities as there is no evidence of current disability during or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals seeking service connection for various disabilities, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative lumbar arthritis and injuries to his lower extremities, result in the loss of use of both lower extremities such that he is unable to effectively ambulate independently without assistive devices. This meets the criteria for specially adapted housing eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, left and right knee disabilities, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetes mellitus, render him unemployable. The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 2017, which also grants basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to April 13, 2021. Special Monthly Compensation at the housebound rate is denied as of April 13, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for neck, left knee, right knee, and left shoulder conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, right thumb arthritis, and unspecified penile condition are remanded due to the lack of adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and right knee condition aggravated his OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), leading to obesity which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA. Therefore, service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has restored the evaluations for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the procedural requirements were not followed in reducing these evaluations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative. The claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, prostate cancer, skin cancer, left knee disability, right knee disability, cardiovascular disability, and headaches are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted. The claim is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied a separate compensable disability rating for right knee arthritis with history of ACL and meniscus repair, finding that pyramiding was not applicable as the Veteran's symptoms were already addressed under other diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, and back conditions due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he asserts had its onset during active service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, nasal disability, and PFB as there is no current evidence of these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of his February 2024 claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran and his spouse are not eligible for benefits under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to a lack of evidence showing they need personal care services from another individual. The case is being remanded to allow further development.

The Board has awarded a 100% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, effective April 12, 2020. As this award moots the issue of individual unemployability, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for an unspecified anxiety disorder was denied, and the case is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella and 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease are also remanded due to a duty to assist error.,Additional VA medical records related to the Veteran's knees need to be obtained, and a retrospective addendum opinion is required.

The Board denied service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the bilateral ankles, knees, and lower back as there was no evidence that the conditions were caused or aggravated by active duty service.