Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, COPD, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, OSA, left and right below knee amputations, bilateral lower extremity scars, and CAD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure, and her bilateral knee disabilities are related to in-service training exercises.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with lumbar strain is granted. The claims for higher initial ratings for GERD, cholecystectomy, surgical scar, and hypertension are dismissed. The issue of service connection for bilateral leg disability is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's spouse is seeking a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes based on his service-connected disabilities. The claim was previously denied, but the Board finds it should be remanded to consider the merits of the issue from the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right and left knee strain, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder (anxiety, social anxiety), IVDS degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and lumbosacral strain were denied effective dates prior to May 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for gout in his bilateral feet, knees, and right elbow, as well as an upper back condition. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a right shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS and a right knee disorder are granted, with the latter being presumed due to her Persian Gulf War service. The motion alleging CUE in the denial of service connection is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee pain and left knee pain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.,Both knees were diagnosed with osteoarthritis including patellofemoral pain syndrome, which began during active service.

The Veteran's appeal of his right ear hearing loss claim is dismissed. His claims for tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and several other conditions are granted. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision granting an increased 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the RO made errors in its adjudication of several service connection claims, including neck strain, mid back strain, shoulder strains, knee strains, migraines, vertigo, chronic sinusitis, and chronic rhinitis. The Board finds that VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to address these issues on remand.

The appeal for RLE radiculopathy and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,The appeals for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee arthroplasty and service connection for left knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for Parkinson's disease has been withdrawn and dismissed. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, dermatological disorder (initially claimed as 'skin tags'), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are all being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee arthralgia, degenerative arthritis, and genu varus deformity as there is no evidence that these conditions manifested within a year of discharge or were otherwise incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to January 18, 2021, and from March 1, 2022, to June 9, 2022.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat service, and the claim for migraine headaches, low back disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, sleep apnea, and back condition. His TDIU is granted effective June 19, 2020.

The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from October 17, 2017 to March 23, 2018.,The Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as left knee strain with instability and bipartite patella, is at least as likely as not related to his period of ACDUTRA from October 17, 2017 to March 23, 2018.