Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, lumbar disc disease with herniation, right knee osteoarthritis, and a left knee condition (manifested by pain with functional loss that can affect earning capacity), all of which are found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's in-service exposure to hazardous noise and service duties.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities were granted effective April 4, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection due to late filing of appeal requests, and thus dismissed the attempts.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is granted as service connected. The left knee disability and psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU and earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance are granted, with the TDIU effective from February 26, 2014. The Housebound rate special monthly compensation is also granted as of November 9, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his surgeries and post-surgical care resulted in additional disabilities, as well as an evaluation of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee and right knee disabilities have been granted. The remaining issues, including those related to the shoulders, back, and erectile dysfunction, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as untimely.,Service connection for PTSD has not been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues include respiratory condition, tension headaches, OSA, PFB, and bilateral knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors in the development process. The VA is required to provide an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disorders, including any meniscal disability or patellar instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee instability, PTSD, MDD, GAD, migraines, panic disorder, and latrophobia have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of left knee instability or PTSD. The Veteran's mental health conditions are currently diagnosed but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's back and right knee disabilities, as well as their associated radiculopathies, are granted service connection. A TDIU is also granted from August 10, 2022.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Specifically, records from his National Guard service and opinions regarding the etiology of his knee and kidney conditions are required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and insufficient notice, and to obtain private treatment records for the Veteran's right knee and left hand surgeries.

Service connection for lower back pain and right knee pain and swelling has been granted.,The claim of service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need to verify an in-service stressor.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's pes planus is service connected. The claims for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis in the right elbow, right knee joint osteoarthritis, and residuals of a ventral hernia. The Veteran's preexisting conditions worsened during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities due to a failure to obtain VA examinations, which are necessary to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right arm/shoulder disability. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony about his duties during active duty service and a private medical opinion that supports the connection between his military service and his current disabilities.