Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a left knee strain due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing condition existed prior to his active-duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis and lumbar disc displacement. The remand is required due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's effective dates for increased disability ratings of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are denied as the increase in severity was not ascertainable prior to June 2, 2022.,The Veteran's effective date for an increased disability rating of 20 percent for right shoulder strain is granted on February 20, 2023, based on evidence showing painful motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, left knee disability, and sleep apnea were dismissed as the appeal was untimely filed.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's left knee ACL repair surgery resulted in a period of convalescence for at least thirty days, and the Board has granted her temporary total rating based on this.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection, while his left knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, variously diagnosed as mild facet arthrosis and disc bulge at L4-5 and L5-S1, lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration, and low back pain. The Veteran's left knee disability incurred during active service in October 2013 is also recognized.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle tendinitis, right ankle tendinitis, sleep apnea, and both knee conditions are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied because the medical records do not establish continuity of care from service.

Service connection for IBS is granted. The claims for initial increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee meniscal tear, and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, nerve impairment of the right upper extremity, and nerve impairment of the left upper extremity are presumed to have begun during service. The Board is remanding these issues for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left knee disability have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's status post left inguinal hernia repair is rated as noncompensable, with no recurrence of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology from service or in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for broken left leg, left knee replacement, cervical spine condition, and back surgery were all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.,The Veteran's right ankle condition with Achilles tendonitis and right foot condition have not been readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and fibromyalgia disabilities. The claims for increased ratings of ankle and knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee strain are found to be related to service, while the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and insomnia) is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination. The claim for migraines is also remanded.,The Veteran's right knee strain and tinnitus are granted service connection, while the acquired psychiatric condition and migraines claims require further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development regarding medical records related to the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was withdrawn. His claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded his claims for service connection for right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Veteran's tension headaches are due to his service-connected cervical spine disability and have been granted service connection.,His bilateral pes planus preexisted service but increased in severity during service, warranting service connection for this condition.,Bilateral plantar fasciitis was diagnosed during service and continues since then, granting service connection for this condition.,Right knee pain is related to a right knee MCL sprain that occurred during service, leading to the grant of service connection.