Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol dependency, and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to errors in VA's duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability but denied service connection for residuals of a stress fracture of the right distal tibia (right leg disability).

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for left knee strain, right knee strain, hypertension, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's right and left hip osteoarthritis, as well as his right and left foot arthritis, are not service-connected because they are not related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that it is due to his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee total replacement is rated at 60 percent, reflecting chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for left knee postoperative residuals is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an examination that did not adequately consider all of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's migraines are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the remaining issues.

The Veteran's right knee condition and bilateral foot conditions are remanded for further development as the VA examiners' opinions were inadequate due to reliance on service treatment records that were silent for complaints, diagnoses or treatments related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbosacral spine conditions, attributing them to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, and headache condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to pes planus and lower back conditions are being remanded due to the submission of new medical evidence. The left ankle and knee disabilities have been rated appropriately.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric disability), tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain with levoconvex midthoracic scoliosis (lumbar spine disability), right shoulder dislocation with rotator cuff tendonitis and shoulder strain (right shoulder disability), left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis (left shoulder disability), right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), right ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (right ankle disability), and left ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (left ankle disability) has been granted. The effective date for these decisions is November 28, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for right ankle disability, right knee disability, and back disability due to new evidence received after a September 2024 rating decision. Service connection is now granted for right ankle arthritis and total ankle joint replacement, right knee strain, meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament tear, osteoarthritis, and total knee arthroplasty, as well as degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine secondary to these conditions. The Board also granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the back disability.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee chondromalacia patella is denied, and the lumbar spine claim is remanded. The Veteran was granted service connection but assigned a 10 percent disability rating based on painful motion.

Your appeal of the reduction in your right knee rating and termination of SMC at housebound level has been dismissed. The issues have been resolved, but you are encouraged to consider whether you want to file a new claim or appeal further.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service-connected back and right knee disabilities due to incomplete military personnel records and inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and lupus tumidus have been granted. The Board found that the conditions are related to his active service.