Knee decisions — 2024

The Board granted ratings of 20 percent for dislocation of the medial meniscus, 30 percent for functional loss equivalent to favorable ankylosis, and 20 percent for lateral instability of the right knee. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA were denied, but SMC based on housebound status was granted.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Board remands the claims for a new examination to ensure adequate medical opinions are provided.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, and PTSD evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for joint pain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these disabilities and events or injuries during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examinations and failure to address retrospective findings of left knee disability over the claim period. The Veteran should be scheduled for another examination by an examiner other than those who conducted previous exams.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to lack of VA examinations and incomplete military records.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the July 2022 rating decision proposing to reduce the disability rating from 20% to 10% was not a final, appealable decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations or opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee manifestations.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee osteoarthritis are found to be at least in equipoise with causing or aggravating his sleep apnea. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea.

The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and its secondary effects on other conditions. The decision found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active duty or ACDUTRA, and thus could not be granted based on presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and a right knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis was found to have preexisted his active service and not been aggravated by it.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in August 2022 were inadequate and remanded for new examinations to determine if the Veteran's hip, shoulder, ankle, and knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is service-connected as it was caused by his in-service injuries to his knees and back, which led to joint pain and an altered gait putting strain on his hips.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee loss of flexion with pain secondary to a left knee strain, but denied service connection for right ankle pain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is granted. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in her left ear for VA purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of anatomical loss or use of extremities, and his conditions are not related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to her service-connected disabilities. Her bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, effective April 23, 2007. The right knee limitation of flexion is granted but no higher than noncompensable. The rating for right knee osteoarthritis remains denied.