Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis is granted as the evidence shows a continuity of symptoms since service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The reduction in the rating of the Veteran's right hip limitation of extension disorder from 10 percent to noncompensable effective March 14, 2024 was improper. The petition to restore the 10 percent rating pursuant to Diagnostic Code 5251 effective August 11, 2020 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for various disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, a surgical scar, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left hip disability, right knee disability, psychiatric disability, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, vocal cord dysfunction, sinusitis, tinea, and facial acne.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, depression, hypertension, and a bilateral knee condition due to insufficient evidence of record. The claims are remanded as there is indication that these conditions may be related to service.

The Veteran's initial ratings of 10 percent for left and right knee strains, limitation of extension, were granted.,The Veteran's initial noncompensable (0 percent) ratings for left and right knee strains, limitation of flexion, were granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing, and instructions are given for the AOJ to provide such notice.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,The Veteran's right knee disability is denied as not related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial disability rating for his left knee disability, limitation of extension, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to a legally inadequate medical opinion. The Board finds that further clarification and explanation are needed regarding the Veteran's need for personal care services, supervision, or instruction.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his left knee fracture postoperative rating from 30 percent to 20 percent, effective September 1, 2020, has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,Claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have also been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection on a direct basis.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted on a direct basis.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee arthritis post total knee replacement, and right knee arthritis post total knee replacement have all been granted on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during or were aggravated by his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because the appeal requests were not timely filed within one year of the rating decisions, and no good cause was provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain, bilateral knee conditions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, which was not considered in previous reports.

Your appeal for service connection for right and left knee disorders has been dismissed as there is no case or controversy before the Board.