Knee decisions — 2024

The Board granted disability ratings of 70 percent, 30 percent, and 20 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) respectively, effective November 25, 2020. The ratings for other conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee conditions has been received, and will therefore proceed with readjudication of those claims. The Veteran asserts that his left and right knee conditions are due to knee injuries he sustained in service. However, VA medical opinions are inadequate as they rely on an absence of medical records to support their conclusions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is presumptively related to symptoms noted in service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders to obtain an appropriate medical opinion on their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examination for assessing his knee disabilities, including instability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions including psychiatric disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, GERD, and erectile dysfunction due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, specifically patellofemoral syndrome with shin splints, is rated at 10 percent for both knees. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran's disabilities of the cervical spine, left ankle, left great toe, bilateral knees, right shoulder, and lumbar spine are not attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of TTD rating based on left knee surgery necessitating convalescence beyond July 31, 2021, and a higher rating for his left knee disability were both denied. The Veteran was not granted a TTD rating due to insufficient evidence of prolonged convalescence after the initial surgery. His claim for an increased rating also failed as there is no evidence that his left knee disability manifests in chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 9, 2022, for service connection of low back pain, right shoulder instability, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for recurrent low back pain, 20 percent for right shoulder glenohumeral joint instability, 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied.,The evidence did not support findings of unfavorable ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is dismissed as the appeal has already been granted in full.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current diagnosis of a right knee strain is related to his military service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to PTSD. The claims for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee strain and meniscal tear with tendinitis and tendinosis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, finding that there is a causal relationship between his in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that it is etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia were evaluated, but the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent have not been met.,Both knees are rated based on limitation of motion under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (flexion) and 5261 (extension).