The Veteran's knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis with instability and limited flexion, are rated at the maximum available under VA regulations. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings based on additional functional loss or other factors.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee disabilities have been evaluated as direct service connection cases, without any presumption of exposure to environmental hazards like burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or radiation. The current evaluations are at the maximum schedular rating for each condition based on the severity of symptoms and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Arthritis of the Left Knee with Residuals of Semilunar Cartilage Removal, Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Knee with Residuals of Semilunar Cartilage Removal, Degenerative Arthritis of the Left Knee with Limited Flexion, Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Knee with Limited Flexion, Degenerative Arthritis of the Left Knee with Instability, Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Knee with Instability, Degenerative Arthritis of the Left Knee, Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Knee with Painful Motion, Left Anterior Knee Scar, Right Anterior Knee Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2026
- Citation
- A26012862
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26012862.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee to correct duty to assist errors.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, as well as left ankle strain.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection and an initial compensable evaluation, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability or sleep apnea related to service. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were found to be noncompensable.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the records incomplete and remanded for several reasons, including obtaining updated private treatment records from the Veteran's ENT provider and VA treatment records. Additionally, a new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to inadequate previous examination.
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