Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, right knee disability, neck disability, right hip disability, right elbow disability, and bilateral foot disability due to potential service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to burn pits in Somalia.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for TDIU and all service connection claims, stating he is satisfied with the decisions made regarding his VA disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee and left wrist disabilities due to new evidence being received.

The Board has granted clothing allowances for the right and left knee braces, but denied the request for a wrist brace due to lack of service-connected condition.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal of TDIU was dismissed because the August 2021 rating decision implemented a June 2021 Board decision that denied an increased rating for right knee disability and granted another evaluation. The May 2022 VA Form 10182 did not place any new issue into appellate status.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted service connection. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and TDIU issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disorders as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during periods of active duty, inactive duty training, or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to attempt rescheduling the Veteran's missed VA examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 100 percent rating. The right middle finger disability remains at a 10 percent rating, and the right knee strain reduction from 20 to 10 percent is upheld.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Obstructive Sleep Apnea was dismissed due to a prohibited concurrent appeal. The claims for Personality Disorder, Left Neck Scar, Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability, Bilateral Foot Disability, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (MDD and ADHD) are all remanded for further development. Service connection for Hypothyroidism is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hip disabilities, migraine headaches, tinnitus, left knee disability and bilateral ankle disabilities are being remanded.,VA is required to grant an earlier effective date of December 15, 2021, for the award of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and left knee strain. The Veteran's anxiety disorder rating is also being granted an earlier effective date of December 15, 2021.,VA must grant a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis as of December 15, 2021, but the reduction to zero percent from 30 percent on December 30, 2023, is not proper. The Veteran's respiratory condition (now claimed as chronic bronchitis) remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes requests for increased ratings, TDIU on an extraschedular basis, and a grant of eligibility to Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35. The Board grants these claims with the effective dates specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left wrist or left ankle conditions, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,VA examinations in September 2019 found no evidence of lower back or knee conditions related to service. The VA examiner's opinions are deemed inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise regarding parachute jumps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left wrist or left ankle conditions, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,VA examinations in September 2019 found no evidence of lower back or knee conditions related to service. The VA examiner's opinions are deemed inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise regarding parachute jumps.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PPS), left knee with instability, and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) were both restored. The PPS rating was reduced from 10% to 0%, but the total combined rating did not change. The BPPV rating was increased to 30%.

The Veteran's migraines, right shoulder bursitis, right elbow condition, bilateral knee conditions, and PFB are all found to be related to service. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his left pinky scar.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as remanded the claims of left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's unspecified trauma related disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The right knee strain claim is remanded for further evaluation.