Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5260, due to limited flexion during flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, as well as her requests for compensable ratings and increased ratings for headaches, left shoulder scar, left-hand long finger disorders, and right-hand long finger disorders. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder and bilateral foot disabilities, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 17, 2022. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the proper notice of disagreement was filed under the legacy system, not the AMA system. The Board's decision is based on the legacy docket number and has been remanded to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied service connection for right foot, right knee, and low back conditions. The decision is based on the Veteran's STRs showing complaints of these conditions during his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for increased rating of left knee arthritis prior to May 10, 2017. Effective dates were granted for service connection and evaluations for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as a surgical scar on the back.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee conditions, finding that his current knee disabilities are related to joint trauma from parachute jumps during active duty.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC benefits was denied as their combined rating of service-connected disabilities is below the required threshold (70%) to be considered a 'serious injury' under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 25, 2017.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left knee disabilities were granted service connection as they had their onset in active service.,Service connection for a headache disability, linked to the cervical spine disability, was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not begin during his active-duty service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. As such, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has dismissed all service connection appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee ACL and meniscus damage, as well as sleep apnea, both of which are found to be related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and service connection for arthritis of the right knee, effective February 22, 2018. The appeal regarding these issues is now resolved in favor of the appellant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted due to presumed exposure during service in Thailand. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy are denied.,The Veteran was granted presumptive service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II under the PACT Act. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy remain denied.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for readjudicating the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is remanded due to incomplete service records and a need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding treatment records and a medical opinion on Allopurinol's effects.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right and left knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, asthma, and fibromyalgia, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and dental disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.