Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of non-specific damage to the heart, circulatory system, cellular DNA damage, and cancers and gene damage have been dismissed due to his withdrawal. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including worms, hemorrhoids, joint pain (to include arthritis), knee conditions, shoulder conditions, wrist conditions, hand conditions, eating disorders, migraines, cardiovascular condition, digestive condition, dizziness, and ear condition have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence for these conditions.

The Board denied referral for extraschedular TDIU prior to July 14, 2012 due to insufficient evidence showing the Veteran was unemployable because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for neck muscle spasms. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for IBS was denied prior to February 28, 2018, but a petition to reopen this claim was granted in December 2018. The effective date of service connection for IBS is not earlier than February 28, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a left knee condition. The Veteran's claim for surgery residuals, including pregnancy complications, and her hearing loss rating are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right knee disability is granted. The claim to reopen his previous denial of service connection for right knee sprain, recharacterized as right knee disability, is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his exposure to toxic substances (TERA) and delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 4, 2017.

The Veteran's right knee instability and left knee instability have been granted separate 10 percent ratings effective February 18, 2015. The initial rating for the right knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his military service and more likely due to age-related wear and tear.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his left knee disability, as well as secondary service connection for right knee, low back, right hip, and left hip disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically regarding loss of range of motion during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability evaluation, effective date prior to March 2, 2012 for service connection of a right knee scar, and extension of temporary total rating due to convalescence from right knee surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee patellar tendonitis and right fifth toe fracture was denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied because he had at least one disability rated at 40% or more, but the combined rating did not reach 70%, and there were other noncompensable disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee strain with osteoarthritis and left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears, finding that the earliest date of claim was June 5, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left leg and knee conditions, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical strain is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.,Service connection for spondylosis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), left knee osteoarthritis with osteophyte formation, right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes, and right hip strain with limitation of extension are all denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.