Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, which may be related to his service-connected left knee osteoarthropathy and chondromalacia patella or trochanteric pain syndrome. The VA must provide an adequate opinion on these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain and right thumb condition, but denied service connection for neck condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist condition, right knee condition, and right shin condition.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for a higher rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis based on limitation of extension since March 27, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical examinations and opinions that did not consider the Veteran's complete medical history, specifically his testimony of instability while carrying weight.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with previous remand directives and has ordered another remand to obtain a VA examination for back and knee disabilities, as well as updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is more likely due to age-related changes rather than service or diabetes.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including IBS with hiatal hernia and GERD, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, OSA, bronchitis, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and an ulcer disability.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome and upper extremity neurological disabilities, as well as knee disabilities, all claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure. The diagnoses were not shown to have originated during active service or due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee condition, effective from June 28, 2018. The decision is based on limitation of extension of the left knee.

The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, left knee condition, and right ankle conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological condition (carpal tunnel syndrome) is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, alcohol use disorder, right and left knee osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examinations and outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to concerns about the Veteran's weight gain and its relation to his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether his knee disabilities are related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are granted as service-connected. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial disability ratings have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The right knee, GERD, and left lower extremity radiculopathy cases require new evaluations by VA physicians.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were granted, but the effective dates are limited to March 27, 2024. The right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, anxiety disorder, right rotator cuff tendonitis, chronic bilateral reoccurring anterior uveitis, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, dermatofibroma, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for left knee limitation of extension was granted. The effective date is set at August 30, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a left knee condition to include a left knee strain, degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining post-service treatment records and failing to provide proper notification of attempts to obtain those records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a back disability and initial compensable ratings for bilateral knee disabilities due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions. The appellant's claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.