Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and he receives a 10 percent disability rating for his right knee scar. His other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence, as there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient detail in the VA examination report. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address whether he has subluxation, instability, or semilunar cartilage condition of either knee and what causes his reports of giving way.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with right great toe hallux limitus; bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy; obstructive sleep apnea; cervical degenerative arthritis, disc disease, spinal stenosis, and C4-C7 fusion; left shoulder strain; lumbar degenerative disc disease; right shoulder strain; right knee tendonitis; left knee tendonitis; painful right neck scar; tinnitus; right lower extremity polyneuropathy; and left lower extremity polyneuropathy render him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA needs to obtain examination reports and determine if the service-connected conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as OSA, all secondary to the service-connected PTSD. The appellant's chronic knee pain is attributed to his military service.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

Service connection is granted for dry eye syndrome, photophobia, and right knee PFPS. Service connection for right shoulder strain and left shoulder strain is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, neck disorder, back disorder, left-hand disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or use of a hand, foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the Veteran is denied financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all issues related to service connection and rating decisions from February 2017, May 2019, and November 2019 due to untimely Notice of Disagreement filings.

The Veteran's ratings for insomnia and right knee conditions were improperly reduced, and the appeals are granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has remanded all claims due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, lower back, left knee, right ankle, and right hand disabilities. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the disability already meets the maximum schedular rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations and denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition. The Veteran was granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertensive heart disease, chest condition, left arm condition, right arm condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right knee disability, hypertension, headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a sleep disorder due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as migraine headaches, due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to active service or secondary to his lumbar spine condition. His migraine headaches are related to active service.