Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the VA rating decision denying service connection for a right knee disability and a back disability is not supported by adequate medical opinions, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed due to their death. The claims will be dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's ankle and knee conditions are granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence approximately balanced as to whether these disabilities began in service.,Service connection for right shoulder DJD and impingement syndrome is also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's earlier effective dates for service connection of his lumbar spine, left knee strain, and right knee tendonitis to February 22, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating more than 20 percent for right knee disability is dismissed. The claim of service connection for bone disability and radiculopathy, as secondary to service-connected right knee disability, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his active duty period. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain the Veteran's STRs and military personnel records.

The Board has denied an increased rating for right knee patellar tendinitis and has remanded the issue of service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes with upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, glaucoma, back disability, and bilateral knee disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 26, 2022. Effective date for TDIU is set at this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, back disability, left leg disability, left knee disability, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee scar is rated at a 10 percent rating since February 9, 2017. The Board granted this rating based on the Veteran's reports of pain and sensitivity in his right knee scar.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for neck, left ankle, right ankle, left trochanteric pain syndrome, OSA, esophageal disability, left wrist, and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible statements regarding symptom onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will now consider whether GERD, wrist carpal tunnel syndromes, diabetes mellitus, ankle disabilities, hip strain, and knee disability are related to his military service.

An effective date of July 1, 2020 is granted for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).,An effective date of July 1, 2020 is also granted for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to permanent and total service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and conduct any necessary development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee was granted an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative changes, and a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The decision is based on the Veteran's symptoms during flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are not related to his active service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's lumbar strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability were not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, right knee, left wrist, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors and to address the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 16, 2017, for the service connection awards of migraine headaches and a right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions and ratings. The appeals are dismissed.