Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his bilateral knee strains and his TDIU claim due to a lack of specific measurement without considering the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's parachute jumps during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent from July 18, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for addendum opinions due to inadequate previous medical opinions. The issues include service connection for colon disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis is presumed to be related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis, thoracic anterior wedge compression fracture, lumbar spine disability, right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, kidney stones, endocarditis, and Parkinson's disease are not granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to an administrative error and a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending and requires further development to verify the stressors reported during service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right ankle, kidney, and heart disabilities are remanded for additional medical opinions.,No specific exposure basis is provided in this decision.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal disability is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent, and his prior claim for an increased rating for limitation of motion of the right knee prior to March 10, 2008 is denied. Since May 23, 2011, he has been granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their current symptoms and limitations, with no higher ratings being warranted due to the severity of her instability and joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for memory loss has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection is granted for right knee arthralgia as secondary to lumbosacral strain, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,Service connection is granted for left knee arthralgia as secondary to lumbosacral strain, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The assigned evaluations for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral knee meniscal tears with degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee meniscal tears with degenerative arthritis (limitation of extension), residuals of cold injury of the bilateral hands with multi-joint disease and paresthesias, and posttraumatic stress disorder were all denied.,For PTSD, the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was granted but his evaluation remained at 50 percent disabling prior to March 14, 2025, and increased to 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and thus requires another remand for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, but the case is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The claim of an initial rating higher than 20 percent for left knee meniscus tear is being remanded due to incomplete medical reports and the need for updated VA treatment records, including non-VA community care consultations.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 20, 2003 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability is not service-connected as it was not shown to have begun during his period of active duty or be related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to have begun during his period of active duty or be related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to conflicting opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected spine condition or hip replacement.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral shin splints due to inadequate VA opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.