Knee decisions — 2026

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for cold urticaria, which was initially granted in June 2015. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine the appropriate effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions require further examination to determine their etiology, as VA did not provide a VA medical examination prior to making its decision.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for a back disability, left foot disability, right knee disability, mental health disorder, and tinnitus is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knees are remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination in connection with these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the medical opinion provided for service connection of a right knee disability. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for correction.

The Veteran's child is not eligible for VA benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 for spina bifida because the evidence does not support a diagnosis of this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for torn Achilles, left knee as there was no evidence to support a nexus between her current disability and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the November 2019 rating decision. The AOJ is required to provide addendum opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and awarded separate ratings of 20 percent each for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the right knee and right knee instability, but denied an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with limitation of motion.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the previously denied claims of vision, dental trauma, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, low back condition, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss. These claims are being remanded to the AOJ for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations and TDIU are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records, specifically from the North Bay Vet Center and Santa Rosa Regional Hospital. The Board finds these records relevant to his service-connected PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for right knee disability. The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are currently rated based on limitation of motion, but his shin splints do not meet criteria for a separate rating.

The Veteran's bilateral foot and knee disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as instability of the knees, have been denied. The Veteran is granted separate 10 percent ratings for mild instability in both knees.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination, which is necessary to determine if the Veteran's current right knee condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability and right knee limitation of flexion were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the March 2025 rating decision, requiring an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not demonstrate current hearing loss.