Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's right knee strain claim has been denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment. The left shoulder, SLAP tear, glenoid fracture, and osteochondral defect claim has been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a neck disability, left shoulder disability, right paresthesias, left paresthesias, [residual(s) of] acute bronchitis, and bilateral knee disabilities. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during or shortly after service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral flat feet.,New evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims of service connection for a disability of the left little finger, skin condition, and left eye disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disability (left knee arthritis).,The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left wrist disability, and skin condition are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted with a 30% rating, but no higher. The left knee condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right and left knee braces were not shown to cause wear and tear to his clothing during calendar year 2021, leading to the denial of a clothing allowance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip conditions due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee arthritis is being remanded due to the failure to provide a new examination regarding the severity of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment solely because of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and back pain. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress with insomnia resulted in occupational and social impairment from March 9, 2015 to September 2, 2021. The claim for service connection of the back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder is remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee replacement and lumbosacral strain with spinal fusions and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, with effective dates set at May 11, 2018, and December 1, 2017, respectively.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted on October 4, 2019.

The Board has restored the previous ratings for the Veteran's left knee recurrent subluxation, right knee arthritis with cartilage damage, and left shoulder strain due to inadequate examinations used in the reduction process.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right knee degenerative arthritis and subluxation have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety, left knee tendonitis, and right knee tendonitis. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain, right knee strain, bilateral foot condition, and hemorrhoids. The most probative evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to service.,Without a current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disability or hemorrhoids, the Veteran's claims for these conditions must be denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee strain. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination and opinion.