Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings in all listed service-connected disabilities before a decision on the merits was made.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed with respect to the May 18, 2023 rating decision denying an increased disability evaluation for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and denied service connection for left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The case is remanded for further action on the right hip disability claim.

The appeal of the proposed reduction from a 70 percent to 30 percent disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for left knee disability and entitlement to service connection for TBI are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right calf muscle tear, low back condition, eczema of the right leg, athlete's foot, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left hip condition, and right hip condition due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for TBI and other stressor-related disorder were dismissed due to concurrent elections.,Claims for increased ratings for laceration of the forehead, left ear hearing loss, headache syndrome, right ear hearing loss, hypothyroidism (Grave's Disease), bilateral knee conditions, and vision disorder were dismissed as untimely.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied due to the absence of a diagnosed condition.,Service connection is being remanded for bilateral foot, lumbar spine, knee, ankle, and elbow disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety condition is granted a 50 percent rating, while his bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left hip strain, and right hip strain are all denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent. The left knee strain was also denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7802. The VA examinations did not adequately address functional loss due to pain, resulting in insufficient evidence for a decision on the increased initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied as the AOJ found that the evidence was not new and relevant to adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's right knee scars are rated at a 20 percent effective September 28, 2021. The Board found that the evidence was in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right knee scars were painful by date of his September 2021 supplemental claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, left knee, and right knee due to inadequate VA examinations in August 2020 and January 2021.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection was granted for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation of pre-service disability.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,Service connection was denied for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities.,Service connection was denied for left upper extremity and right upper extremity neuropathy.,The Veteran's pancreatitis claim is remanded.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart condition. The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, but has remanded the claim for respiratory disability manifested by shortness of breath due to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The claims of service connection for intracranial lipomas and tinnitus, as well as the initial compensable disability ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella and right ear hearing loss, are dismissed due to untimely notices of disagreement. The claim of compensation for burn pit exposure is dismissed because it was not a specific disability but rather an indication that more information was needed.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its clinical onset in active service and is not otherwise related to active service.,The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for a left knee disability (including degenerative arthritis, foreign body removal, and strain), as well as a left knee scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and other benefits related to his service-connected conditions. The decision also upheld some of his existing disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to residuals, status post-surgical reconstruction of the lateral ligaments of the left ankle. The claims for left knee and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service or due to his already service-connected left leg disabilities.