Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including medications taken for his service-connected conditions, are found to be the cause of his mouth disorder other than loss of teeth.,Since July 2, 2025, the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome with limitation of extension has been rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disorders, as well as right and left knee disorders due to inadequate prior examinations. The AOJ is instructed to schedule new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The left knee strain claim is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors and remands are needed for the following issues: increased evaluations for service-connected tension headaches, dry eye syndrome with pinguecula and arcus senilis, hypertension, left foot musculocutaneous nerve (superficial peroneal) paralysis; and service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hamstring condition, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral knee strain. The Veteran's headaches, diarrhea and nausea, and dizziness are denied.,Service connection is also denied for fatigue.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea, 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, and 10 percent for right knee scars have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative transabdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with resolving tender incision is found to be the cause of her diagnosed disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopy, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right hand degenerative arthritis, and right wrist degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for left total knee arthroplasty residuals, finding that the disability is related to the service-connected right total knee arthroplasty residuals.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bursitis, left knee meniscal tear, and right knee strain was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a hearing scheduled on May 8, 2024.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in obtaining medical opinions related to the Veteran's head trauma, low back pain, and left knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson's disease and associated lower extremity disabilities, have been shown to preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane, walker, and wheelchair. Eligibility for specially adapted housing is established. However, as eligibility has already been established, the claim for a special home adaptation grant cannot be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of June 13, 2024 for his award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the date of receipt of his VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU and DEA benefits effective July 5, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable since January 31, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee and right shoulder conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 13, 2016.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn.,Service connection for prostate cancer is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tender left knee, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, osteoarthritis right knee, and osteoarthritis left knee due to untimely filing of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, manifested by pain causing functional impairment and superimposed upon a congenital defect (left knee bipartite patella), finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to injury during active duty.