Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran's left knee disability and instability have been restored to their previous ratings of 50 percent for the disability and 20 percent for the instability, effective June 1, 2024.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed all related claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disability, and a back disability have been denied. The Board found no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following his military service.,There is no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records from a VA medical center and the need to verify participation in toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Veteran's right and left knee psoriatic arthritis, as well as her right hand, left hand, thoracolumbar psoriasis, and psoriasis scars of the elbows, hands, and ear are all granted. Her anemia, colon disability (claimed as polyps), breast disability (claimed as fibrocystic disease), and hypothyroidism claims have been denied.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee instability, effective December 30, 2020. The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his right knee strain with instability and degenerative arthritis remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee strain, obstructive sleep apnea, atopic dermatitis, chronic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis due to insufficient medical opinions addressing all theories of entitlement. The Veteran's conditions are now considered significantly worsened.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings to 10 percent each, effective September 3, 2025.

The Veteran's combined rating of 90% based on multiple service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his current employment, even with limitations due to incontinence, allows him to earn $2900 per month.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for right shoulder and right knee conditions were assigned effective October 17, 2022. The earlier effective date claims are denied as the evidence does not show an increase in severity prior to this date.,Service connection for fracture 4th metacarpal right hand, with ossicle deformity was granted in July 2002 and is still pending. The claim for service connection for cervical strain must be dismissed due to lack of earlier effective dates.,The Veteran's left shoulder condition has been awarded service connection effective October 17, 2022. No earlier effective date is warranted as the claim was pending until a February 2024 rating decision.,Service connection for fracture 4th metacarpal right hand, with ossicle deformity remains noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5230 due to pain and gradual worsening over years. No compensable rating is assigned.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral venous disability, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and PTSD), erectile dysfunction, hiatal hernia, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability. The issue of hypertension is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of June 24, 2016 for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left lower peripheral vein insufficiency (CVI) and varicose veins, right lower peripheral vein insufficiency (CVI) and varicose veins, left knee joint osteoarthritis, and right knee joint osteoarthritis.,The effective dates are based on the Veteran's formal appeal of the July 2019 Statement of the Case and December 2016 rating decision.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as they are not valid freestanding claims and the Veteran did not appeal the effective dates within one year of notification.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve as secondary to service-connected lumbar disability, and for left knee strain. The Veteran's claims are remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding chronic fatigue with memory loss (CFS) and right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased rating claims for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his initial rating claims for left and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability based on the favorable findings in the September 2025 rating decision.