Knee decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that he does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes. Service connection is granted for PTSD and a left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with strain is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right lower leg sciatic radicular pain, right ankle, right hip, and bilateral knee conditions. The claims were denied for right ear hearing loss due to lack of a diagnosis for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection.,No specific rating was assigned, and the Veteran's conditions are currently rated at various levels.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee strains with patellofemoral pain syndrome, but the appeal regarding the reasonableness of agent fees is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for adjudication purposes, particularly regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions. The Board finds a need to remand both issues for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current symptoms, with the right knee receiving a noncompensable rating for extension and instability, while the left knee receives a separate noncompensable rating. Both knees are currently rated at 10% for limitation of flexion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, left knee disorder, chest pain, respiratory condition (to include exercise induced asthma and shortness of breath), migraines, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability manifested by pain is granted, with the reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection for signs and symptoms involving the lower respiratory system due to undiagnosed illness is granted, with the reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,An increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, each at 40 percent disabling effective February 5, 2024. The appeal is granted as the Appellant is eligible to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the June 2024 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle and knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's military service was a contributing factor to his current conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for right knee strain or sprain and heat stroke because he submitted his Notice of Disagreement (NOD) before receiving notice of the February 2025 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection is also remanded for the Veteran's back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examination addressing the Veteran's MOS, lay statements, and lower extremity disability at entrance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, left knee disability (left eye injury), and right knee disability. The decision is based on the appellant's in-service noise exposure and reported injuries.,Service connection was established for the appellant's left knee disability due to an in-service knee injury.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as less likely related to his active-duty service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further evaluation due to daily flare-ups resulting in painful forward flexion limited to 55 degrees, but not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy is remanded as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of over 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for further evaluation.