Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is related to her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate her previously denied claim of service connection for migraines. The appeal is granted, and she is now entitled to service connection for headaches on a new and relevant evidence basis.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code. The current 10% rating is maintained as there is no evidence of limitation of flexion or extension, instability, dislocation, ankylosis, or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There was no credible evidence linking current right knee disorders to service, including jump school. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service injuries are not considered credible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions and issues have been dismissed due to untimeliness of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and Right Knee Disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for Right Shoulder Muscle Atrophy Group III. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to military service, as there was no evidence of auditory damage during service. The left knee disability is also not related to military service.,The Veteran's left hip disability, lumbar disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and cesarean section scar were not related to military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder, moderate cocaine use disorder, severe marijuana use disorder, is granted as service connected. PTSD was denied due to lack of a valid diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain, right knee pain, sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, blurry vision, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left shoulder rotator cuff, and right shoulder rotator cuff have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, the Board finds that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, blurry vision, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left shoulder rotator cuff, and right shoulder rotator cuff have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral foot pain, lower back pain, right knee pain, and left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear as they were concurrent with a request for higher-level review.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracolumbar strain, right knee strain, left knee strain, left thumb strain, left index finger strain, left middle finger strain, left ring finger strain, left little finger strain, right thumb strain, right index finger strain, right middle finger strain, and right ring finger strain as they are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective June 8, 2023, due to his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder.,The Veteran is also entitled to SMC based on housebound from June 8, 2023, as he has a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities independently ratable above 60%.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic migraines was dismissed as moot because the claim was granted from the date the intent to file a claim for compensation was received on April 3, 2024. The other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricability of issues regarding an effective date for SMC and TDIU. Additional development is needed, including requesting employment information from former employers.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 10 percent rating for right knee strain. The issue of service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left eye condition, bilateral knee pain, low back pain, and bilateral shoulder pain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's STRs are incomplete and need to be obtained, as well as VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disabilities.

The appeal seeking service connection for a left knee disability and hiatal hernia is dismissed due to procedural defects in the filing of the Veteran's appeals under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The left knee claim was improperly docketed, while the hiatal hernia claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board has withdrawn the service connection claims for right and left knee conditions due to a withdrawal request from the appellant. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded due to duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the level of severity of her disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee pain with tendonitis during service is considered a disability and productive of impairment in earning capacity, warranting service connection.