Knee decisions — 2026

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the July 2021 rating decision's determination to defer issuing a decision addressing the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of left knee strain due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left hip disability, right foot disability, GERD, and migraine headaches.,No effective date earlier than November 20, 2023, is granted for the awards of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the aggravation of a preexisting right knee condition during service. The Veteran's right knee condition was noted prior to service, and the VA examiner concluded it did not worsen beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the reduction of disability ratings for right knee, left hip strain (limited abduction), left hip strain (limited extension), and right hip strain (limited extension).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for right knee strain, finding that the evidence of record does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been remanded due to the need for further development of evidence. The Veteran is not entitled to higher initial ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, right elbow scars, kidney conditions, lower back condition, ankle strains, or knee strains.

The appeal for service connection for left foot tendonitis is dismissed.,A separate disability rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks due to military sexual trauma, to include bruxism, separate and apart from the rating for a traumatic brain injury, is denied.,An initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks due to military sexual trauma, to include bruxism and traumatic brain injury, is denied.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent, and no higher, for service-connected Meniere's syndrome is granted. The appeal for a separate rating for service-connected Meniere's syndrome is moot and dismissed.,The appeal for effective dates prior to December 13, 2021, for the award of service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, left hip limitation of abduction and rotation, left hip limitation of extension, right hip osteoarthritis, right hip limitation of abduction and rotation, and right hip limitation of extension is dismissed.,The appeal for a separate disability rating for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded. The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral pes planus to include plantar fasciitis is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for right ankle ankylosis, left ankle ankylosis, and service connection for iron deficiency (anemia) are remanded. The motion for revision, on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, of the April 24, 1995, Rating Decision, which denied service connection for a left leg disability is also remanded.,The appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability and right knee disability are remanded.

The reduction in evaluation of service-connected joint osteoarthritis, right knee (limitation of flexion) from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper; therefore, restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted.,The reduction in evaluation of service-connected left knee painful scar from 10 percent to 0 percent was improper; therefore, restoration of the 10 percent rating is granted.,Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right knee degenerative arthritis (limitation of extension) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an osteochondral lesion of the left knee has been granted. The effective date is April 15, 2026.,Service connection for tinnitus was also granted but with a retroactive effective date of June 13, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in the ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 5, 2021.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of lumbar spine, arthritis of left knee, trochanteric bursitis of left hip, trochanteric bursitis of right hip, and hypertension. The Board found no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for fatigue was dismissed. His headaches, IBS, GERD, allergic rhinitis, sinus, and sleep apnea were all granted. The left knee disability and cataract claims are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, otitis externa, and hypertension have been granted. The Board found that new evidence received after the most recent denial supports these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and sinusitis are not service connected.,The Veteran is seeking a compensable rating for GERD and allergic rhinitis. The Board has remanded these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee disability, finding that a current disability is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of November 22, 2022 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The effective date is based on continuous pursuit of his increased disability rating claims and the fact that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is granted.,An earlier effective date of April 29, 2010, but no earlier, for service connection for a back disability (lumbosacral and thoracic strain) is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, knee, and foot conditions are remanded due to a lack of a VA examination or medical opinion. The Veteran served as an infantry rifleman and contends his current disabilities are related to this role.