Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2022 decision.,Service connection for back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension and flexion were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular pain, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand tremors, right hand tremors, vision disability, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to the Veteran's active service.,The Board found no in-service event, injury, or disease to which the Veteran's claimed low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand tremors, right hand tremors, vision disabilities (diabetic retinopathy and cataracts), or bilateral hearing loss may be related. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities. The claims for left elbow disability and headaches are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions did not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right hand, and right knee disabilities were denied in an April 2022 rating decision. New evidence was submitted including medical records from June 2022, which led to readjudication of the claims.,Service connection is granted for all four conditions: left shoulder disability, right hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the knees, sinusitis, arthritis of the feet, a right elbow disability, and a low back disability due to lack of evidence showing an in-service event or injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder with TBI is granted a 100 percent rating from February 19, 2022. The left and right knee arthritis are each rated at 20 percent since February 19, 2022. Migraine headaches are assigned a maximum 50 percent rating starting from February 25, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding bilateral pes planus, left knee condition, and right knee condition before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a right shoulder sprain (claimed as a right shoulder disability) due to insufficient evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran reported injuries during active duty, but his statements were deemed not credible by the Board.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete medical records and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle and foot disabilities, as well as for right and left knee disabilities, migraine headaches, an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and sleep disturbances. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination clarifying whether the Veteran's left knee condition, including patellofemoral syndrome, is related to his service-connected right patellofemoral pain syndrome. The examiner must also clarify if the Veteran has any current left patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for hypercholesterolemia and multiple myeloma have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,For the remaining conditions, the Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee scar disabilities, have resulted in his inability to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on the combined effects of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle strain and left knee strain as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lower back and left knee disabilities, including rating determinations for various periods of time. The case is being returned for further action based on a retrospective opinion addressing the state of the Veteran's disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with its May 2024 remand, and therefore, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The May 1999 rating decision granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability with an initial disability rating of 10 percent, effective January 25, 1999. The Board found that the May 1999 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous in assigning an effective date of January 25, 1999, without considering whether the prior denial of service connection had become final. As a result, the effective date for the award of service connection is revised to February 2, 1997.