Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee conditions are being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records from Dr. Rodriguez.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for right knee stiffness and an earlier effective date for the painful right knee scar have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and addressing service connection under TERA. The cause of death was attributed to cardiovascular disease, but there are uncertainties regarding the Veteran's lung cancer status and potential service-connected causes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete development of her claims, particularly regarding her bilateral plantar fasciitis and other orthopedic conditions. The AOJ is required to conduct further examinations and obtain medical opinions to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C (HCV) due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions addressing whether HCV caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate for purposes of rating the Veteran's disabilities on appeal. The claims must be remanded to afford the Veteran VA examinations that assess and opine on the current state and severity of his service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff sprain and tendonitis with arthroscopy and AC joint separation, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and thoracic back sprain conditions.

The Veteran's claim for enrollment in the PCAFC program is being remanded due to an inadequate decision from the AOJ. The Board finds that the eligibility criteria were not properly considered, and additional evidence should be evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's increased ratings for back, neck, left foot hallux valgus, bilateral foot condition, and left knee conditions have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no evidence of ankylosis or functional ankylosis in any of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected right knee strain and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 16, 2020 for both TDIU and DEA benefits. The Board found the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since December 16, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, tinnitus, lumbar spondylosis with facet arthrosis and Schmorl nodes, right wrist disability (status post ganglion cyst removal), night coughing, chest pain and recurring rib displacement, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, headache disability, bilateral pes planus, right hand disability, and left knee disability has been dismissed due to untimely filings of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded. The claim for service connection for CFS is also being remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the service-connected left knee tendinitis has been rated at 10 percent since August 7, 2024. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on functional loss or additional limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and right wrist conditions due to a failure to obtain adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

Service connection is granted for upper and lower back disorders.,Service connection is also granted for a right knee disorder. However, service connection is denied for a sinus condition manifested by headaches, other than nonallergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as readjudicate the TDIU claim. The VA treatment records received after the January 2024 SSOC are also to be considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment despite her conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service complaints of cramps and surgeries.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the claimed disabilities to active service.