Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his accidental drowning death.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limitation of flexion, is now rated at 20 percent for the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, but denied her claims for acid reflux disease and urinary incontinence. The decision also remanded her bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his service connection claims.

The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected as it resulted from an injury sustained during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee bursitis, granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disorder.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection for gastroenteritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, right knee strain and hemorrhoids. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of a lumbosacral strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of a left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of right knee strain. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of hemorrhoids. The earliest effective date is December 5, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee strain, and remanded the right knee strain claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence supporting current diagnoses.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current right knee disorder is at least as likely as not related to service. The evidence shows recurrent symptoms since service and an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the evaluation of her left knee and foot disabilities. The VA examinations are inadequate as they did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, anxiety disorder, back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The claim for service connection for residuals of a concussion is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that it was aggravated by active duty. The preexisting condition worsened during service and is now considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 23, 2018, for the grant of service connection for RLE radiculopathy is granted. The Veteran's hypertension and left knee scar are not rated compensably. The claims for increased ratings for right great toe degenerative disease and left great toe degenerative disease are remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.

The Board has remanded several claims for further action, including effective date determinations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's service records from Portsmouth Naval Hospital are requested to be obtained.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder and right knee strain are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected internal derangement of the left knee, considering whether obesity is a substantial factor in their development.