Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 13, 2012 has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed. The Board also did not have jurisdiction to review the remaining issues as they are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and instability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding flare-ups and stability.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis in both knees, finding that the Veteran's knee disabilities were caused by his active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating from March 21, 2018 to January 31, 2021. The Veteran's left knee instability prior to July 6, 2015 is granted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 3, 2016. The Board granted TDIU based on the combined evaluation of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left knee disability was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a recent VA examination. A new examination is required to assess the current severity and functional impact of the service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and to consider all applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's left and right knee conditions, as well as his right middle finger condition, are being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee sprain with residual calf muscle sprain is granted a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision. Service connection for calcium deposit on the sciatic nerve as secondary to service-connected right hip strain with osteoarthritis is also granted.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to September 12, 2023. The case is REMANDED due to the need for further development regarding service connection for right and left knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and hip disabilities due to insufficient detail in the previous examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee DJD and instability prior to December 19, 2023, and on or after that date have been denied. The RO found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 19, 2023, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their specific functional limitations, with a 10 percent rating for instability of each knee from January 24, 2012 to January 5, 2023. The ratings were restored or granted effective January 5, 2023, and higher than 10 percent ratings have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and residuals of right thumb fracture due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disabilities and service connection for a right knee condition were denied. The dismissal of the right knee claim is due to the Veteran not filing a supplemental claim since the previous denial.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to October 26, 2012, for the grants of service connection for TBI and migraine headaches were denied in a February 2020 Board decision. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions or file a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's December 2022 VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) does not set forth contended errors of fact or law in the February 2020 Board decision nor does it plead with particularity any such errors such that the NOD can be construed as either a motion for reconsideration or a motion to revise the Board's February 2020 decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip and knee conditions due to incomplete service treatment records, particularly those from the National Guard and Reserve periods of service. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain these records.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current knee conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates of service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome and arthritis, right knee, with meniscal tear, and intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine (claimed as low back condition), were denied due to the lack of relevant official service department records that existed and had not been associated with the claims file when VA first decided the claim.