Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee chondromalacia status post arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy with scar is denied, but a separate rating of 10 percent for slight left knee instability is granted. Service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right knee disability due to incomplete records, need for medical opinions, and need for further proceedings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to address the severity of the Veteran's right total knee replacement and determining whether separate ratings are warranted at any point during the course of the appeal under Diagnostic Codes 5258 and 5259 for meniscal disorders. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip degenerative joint disease as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The claims for a skin condition and an endocrine condition have been denied.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted with a maximum rating of 30 percent, effective from February 24, 2018. Service connection for left wrist fracture residuals, right hip fracture residuals, and right sided rib fractures are also granted as secondary to service-connected right knee disability. A TDIU is granted effective April 2, 2025.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease (secondary to hypertension) due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee arthritis and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as well as potential SSA records.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle strain, left knee strain and bilateral pes planus with obesity as an intermediate step. The decision is based on a finding that the service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated the OSA.

New and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, hypertension, and TIA.,The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding secondary service connection. The claim for hypertension and TIA are also being remanded.

The appeal for a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus is dismissed.,The reduction of the disability ratings for low back condition and left knee condition from 20% to 10% and noncompensable, respectively, effective January 29, 2024, was restored.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus and the initial rating claim for left knee strain were both denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, leading to denial of service connection for tinnitus. For the left knee strain, the Board determined that the current 10% rating adequately reflects the functional limitations due to pain.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided in connection with these claims were insufficient for determining service connection. The Veteran's knee disabilities are related to his military service, but there is a lack of documented complaints during or within a short time following service. Therefore, the Board finds remand necessary to provide a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, left shoulder arthritis, right ankle and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, cervical strain, and right knee tendinitis have been granted with effective dates of November 9, 2021. The Board has also remanded the cases to assign initial disability evaluations from that date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful left knee scar is denied as the scars are not unstable or painful enough to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's stroke, s/p cerebrovascular accident is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis in left foot and lower back disability are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee are denied as not being service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis in left hip is denied as not being service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces used to treat his service-connected conditions caused damage to his clothing during Calendar Year 2021, warranting a clothing allowance.

The Board has granted a separate 20% rating for the right knee dislocated semi-lunar cartilage from August 27, 2007. The effective date is set at this date as it marks the earliest ascertainable date on which the symptoms warranting the rating first arose.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for back pain, right knee injury, bilateral cervical radiculopathy, left knee disorder, left wrist disorder, and right wrist disorder. The remaining issues are remanded.