Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation. However, due to the need for additional development regarding the severity of his service-connected disabilities, these claims are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, left foot disorder (hallux valgus with Hagland's deformity), right foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), and right knee disorder. The Veteran was not diagnosed with sinusitis during the appeal period.,Service connection was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability, left or right foot disorders, right knee disorder, or sinusitis.

The Veteran's neck disability is denied as service connection. The right knee condition and migraines are remanded for further evaluation.,An increased evaluation of the right knee condition is also remanded, and service connection for migraines remains in dispute.

The Veteran's left big toe condition is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher. The ratings for left knee chondromalacia and right knee chondromalacia are remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for right knee scars and left shoulder disability, denied entitlement to higher ratings for right knee disabilities including instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage, denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and did not grant service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a low back condition is denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to secure an adequate medical examination and review of his service records, as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information on the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, left knee strain (claimed as right knee pain) is remanded for further review, and tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed condition and active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 16, 2017 for the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities.,However, the claim for a higher rating for GERD remains pending as it was not adequately evaluated in the most recent decision.

The Veteran's left knee brace caused wear or tear to her clothing at an increased rate in the 2022 calendar year, and she is granted a clothing allowance for this use.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to new evidence submitted regarding the character of discharge, and also because these issues are intertwined with the decision on the character of discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The claims of entitlement to specially adapted housing, special home adaptation grant, and financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment have also been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee conditions, left knee conditions, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition due to insufficient medical opinions in the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee arthritis, left eye cataract, and headaches due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is granted a 60 percent rating effective August 19, 2021. The Board finds the evidence to be at least approximately balanced in favor of finding that the Veteran's left knee disability warrants this rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of an adequate nexus opinion regarding his in-service symptoms. The AOJ must ensure any new examination considers the applicability of the presumption of soundness.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee flexion and instability have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in addressing the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's right knee disability and whether she is entitled to a separate compensable rating for right knee instability.