Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee strain, and left middle finger disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during service.

The Veteran's right knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during or shortly after his military service.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for headaches was dismissed due to the lack of timely filing and concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis/IBS (formerly GERD) has been dismissed as it is no longer pending at the Board level after a grant by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for CTS was dismissed due to concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as this represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and CTS were remanded due to concurrent election issues. These issues will be addressed in a future rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was not on appeal as it was predecisional error not to address the current rating issue. The issue is remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches will be considered in a future decision.

The Veteran's cystic kidney disease is granted with a 30 percent rating, effective August 9, 2023. The Veteran's left knee disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea are denied. Polycythemia is granted with a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including knee strain with chondromalacia patella and DJD.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), headaches, tinnitus, a back disorder, right knee and leg arthritis, left knee and leg arthritis, right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis as they are at least as likely as not related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to a lack of adequate explanation in the VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran requires personal care services based on the criteria listed in 38 U.S.C. § 1720G(a)(2)(C) and 38 C.F.R. § 71.20(a)(3).

The Board has denied service connection for cervical strain, rotator cuff tendinitis of the left and right shoulders, left hip condition (including a total hip replacement), right hip condition, patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis of the left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.,The Veteran's assertions regarding the onset of his disabilities were not supported by medical evidence or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, right knee disorders, left knee disorders, a back disorder, and a heart disorder. The claims are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain, right knee injury, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain to include degenerative disc disease and IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and tension headaches have been granted effective October 9, 2023.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date were denied as the appropriate effective date is October 9, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee conditions. However, the Veteran did not appeal these decisions to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), so the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The claim will be further evaluated with an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's symptoms, including pain and flare-ups, need to be addressed in a new examination.

The Veteran's SMC claim was granted based on his service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple knee conditions. The effective date is set at February 24, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, right knee arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis. Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee instability, right knee instability, a mental health disorder (PTSD and GAD), and a compensable rating for lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are rated at 10% each, while his left knee disability is also rated at 10%. The Veteran's service connection claim for left knee instability was denied. No new evidence or reopened claims were presented.

The Veteran's ratings for right and left knee flexion were restored to 10 percent effective October 23, 2024. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for his right and left knee extension disabilities as of the same date. However, an increased rating beyond 20 percent for right knee extension prior to October 23, 2024 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye condition, left knee condition, anxiety condition, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Veteran is granted an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD with insomnia.