Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine and left hip conditions as secondary to her service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities, and has also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and tinnitus need to be remanded due to duty to assist errors. The issues will be reviewed with consideration of evidence from the time of the November 2019 rating decision and within 90 days after the Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD, right knee osteoarthritis, and left hand fracture was denied. The effective date remains unchanged at the current level of disability.

The Veteran's service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted effective August 2, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's heart condition, claimed as a heart attack, is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for right, left knee and ankle disabilities as well as right and left foot disabilities. The Veteran's current symptoms are considered to be related to his military duties during service.

The claim of CUE in the February 2020 rating decision regarding service connection for various conditions is dismissed as it was subsumed by a subsequent March 2021 Board decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 18, 2023. Effective that date, the Veteran also becomes eligible for DEA benefits and has an effective date of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PFB, right knee instability, and left knee instability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shin splints, right shin splints, and a right knee disorder due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee tendinitis due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral and thoracic strain.

Service connection for bilateral shin splints, right knee disability, and left knee disability has been granted.,The Veteran's complaints of shin splints, joint pain in both knees, and knee disabilities were noted during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus and service connection for a vitamin D deficiency.,The appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted, but his right knee scar and bilateral hearing loss remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is found to be the primary cause of her bilateral knee strain and obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's eye burning and blurriness, causing impairment in earning capacity, is granted as service connection on a direct basis.,The Veteran's right knee pain, causing impairment in earning capacity, is granted as service connection on a direct basis.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted as service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the claims for right knee condition, left hip bursitis, low back condition, and left ankle condition due to insufficient examination opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection for left leg limitation of extension and other impairment of the left knee with instability have been denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for hypertension has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders due to duty to assist errors prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Veteran is not prejudiced as a remand is necessary to correct these errors.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not result in loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities, and therefore he is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on such.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for the Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral strains, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, and left shoulder impingement are inadequate. The Board also notes that there is no evidence of service connection for hypertension in this decision.