Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's LKS is rated at 10% and his limitation of extension is rated as noncompensable. The Veteran was granted a 30% rating for RFS effective February 24, 2025.,The Veteran's RRV remains at the maximum allowable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain with arthritis, chondromalacia, and strain with limitation of extension was granted effective March 31, 2021. The initial rating assigned is 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and failure to reschedule VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee strain with osteoarthritis, patellofemoral chondromalacia, osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral trochlea, and status post open trochlear arthroplasty, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination and medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his service, specifically his in-service 'use injury' or 'wear-and-tear'.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, right and left hip, and right and left knee disabilities as well as gastrointestinal disability (including GERD, gastritis, gastroenteritis) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for GERD, service connection for left knee condition, and service connection for headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right knee meniscectomy and ACL reconstruction, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, neck disability, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and history of fracture of left fifth metatarsal. The decision also noted that the Veteran's hypertension claim was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional private medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions and evidence. The AOJ is required to obtain additional VA medical opinions and consider any relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to March 15, 2024 precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use assistive devices and his ability to independently ambulate.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for right knee instability and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage prior to December 4, 2019 was granted. He received a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability from August 22, 2019 to December 4, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and seizure disability due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA must provide new opinions addressing whether the disabilities are related to active service, including any aggravation by a pre-existing condition.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, OSA, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, lumbar canal stenosis; right knee condition; left knee condition; right shoulder condition; and neck pain are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish presumptive service connection based on Gulf War Syndrome, and further development is needed to determine if these conditions qualify as undiagnosed illnesses or MUCMIs.