Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and effective dates due to incomplete medical records, including those from VA Community Care programs. The Veteran's right knee disability is being evaluated again, with a focus on whether it is related to her in-service knee pain or secondary to her shin splints. Effective date issues are also being addressed.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella with osteoarthritis and varus deformity is rated at 10 percent, effective April 24, 2021 for the lateral instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, right ankle sprain, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been denied. The reduction in the Veteran's rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee has been upheld.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic knee and back conditions due to pre-decisional errors in VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection as they are related to conditions that have been resolved due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, bilateral lower extremity nerve condition, penile condition, and right ankle condition. The Board found no link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, epigastric disability, right knee disability, skin disability, and depression as new and relevant evidence was not received to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as his claim for sleep apnea. The issues are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CFS, hypertension, GERD, hip arthritis, shoulder and knee conditions, ankle conditions, cervical spine and low back conditions, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, including meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, resulted in functional loss due to chronic pain that limited his locomotion. From March 26, 2007, the Veteran's service-connected neck, lower back, and knee disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of the grant of Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits corresponds to the effective date of the grant for Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and left shoulder condition due to errors in obtaining relevant military records and medical records. The Veteran is also asked to provide any additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's left knee disability and respiratory disability, as the current medical opinions are incomplete in addressing the Veteran's reported flare-ups and functional limitations. The claims are therefore being remanded for further development.

The appeal as to service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, and right and left ankle sprains is dismissed. The appeal as to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that her current condition is related to an in-service injury and that there is sufficient evidence to support this conclusion.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded several claims for service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders to provide the Veteran with a formal hearing and appropriate medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right hip disability due to inadequate previous medical opinions. The VA is required to obtain new addendum medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these disabilities, considering all relevant evidence including the Veteran's statements of continuous symptoms since service.