Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded two issues: a more than 40 percent rating for left knee disability and a more than 10 percent rating for tinnitus, due to inadequate VA examination reports and unclear medical findings.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to consider the Veteran's functional capacity and whether his condition worsened since the January 2023 VA examination. The issues of right hip and right knee disability ratings, as well as TDIU, are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines and right knee strain with patellar chondromalacia (moderate disability) and limitation of flexion were dismissed as the Veteran did not properly opt into the VA Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the appeals for increased ratings are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left knee conditions has been dismissed due to the Appellant withdrawing both issues before a hearing could be scheduled.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his eligibility for the Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to inadequate notice and compliance with regulatory requirements. The Board will adjudicate whether he meets criteria for personal care services, best interests of participation, and other pertinent criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted in part, with the Board finding new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the issues of left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, right hip degenerative joint disease (DJD), arthritis of the right thumb, arthritis of the left thumb, arthritis of the right ring and little fingers, and arthritis of the left ring and little fingers. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for payment of non-VA medical services provided on April 11, 2018, is denied because the care was not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, sinus disorder, and pneumonia have been dismissed as untimely.,Restoration of the 10% ratings for right hip strain and right knee sprain from February 13, 2024 has also been dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's application for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to insufficient notice and an inadequate medical opinion. The AOJ must provide complete notice of the decision as required by law, including identification of whether or not the claim meets the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1720G and 38 C.F.R. § 71.15-71.25. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran qualifies for personal care services.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities (left and right DJD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and left shoulder strain due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis with instability and bursitis are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to functional loss.,Both knees have limited flexion (to at most 60 degrees) and extension (to at most 15 degrees), even considering symptoms such as pain, fatigue, weakness, lack of endurance or incoordination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and segmental instability with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for entitlement to service connection for a heart condition and left above-knee amputation are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's right foot, left foot, right shoulder, left shoulder, cervical spine, right knee, and low back disabilities are granted service connection. The Veteran's chronic bronchitis is also granted service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.,There is no credible evidence demonstrating that any of the Veteran's current left shoulder, right knee, or left knee disabilities manifested within one year of discharge from active service.

The appeal for service connection for a heart disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right knee disability, right hip disability, low back disability, scar of the lower lip, scars associated with a heart disability, and scars associated with a low back disability is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for SMC based on aid and attendance due to a pre-decisional error in not considering evidence submitted by the Veteran within the applicable evidentiary window. The AOJ is required to obtain an opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for A&A.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple service-connected knee and hip conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.