Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, pruritus ani, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The left knee disability was granted a separate rating for painful extension from March 20, 2020, and instability from the same date. Pruritus ani was denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition. Bilateral hearing loss was also denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (avoidant personality disorder) was found not to be a compensable disability for VA purposes due to its nature as a personality disorder, and no other current psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in the record.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits. The claim for service connection for hysterectomy, status post fibroids, is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was granted service connection. The left ankle condition claim is dismissed due to procedural defects. Other claims for various conditions are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, foot, hip disabilities and cervical spine disability. The evidence did not show a current disability or any related symptoms that caused impairment in earning capacity during the appeal period.

The Board denied a combined rating in excess of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, as the overall combined rating is 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and left knee strain, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint and disc disease of the low back, left knee osteochondroma, right knee degenerative joint disease, hypertension, folliculitis, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 2021. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right and left knee pain are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board will obtain a VA medical opinion to clarify the current knee disabilities, including DJD, and address the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of June 7, 2018, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for various disorders, including right knee, left knee, left hip, low back, costochondritis, OSA, and neck disorder, as there was no evidence of a current disability or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral knee conditions are found to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation, but his claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as bilateral knee disabilities, all secondary to a now service-connected back disability. The claims for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to the service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right knee disability have been granted initial ratings, while the claim for left foot plantar fasciitis has been denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and increased the rating for residuals of right thumb cyst surgery to 20 percent, while denying a compensable disability rating for the surgical scar. The claims for back, left knee, and radiculopathy disabilities were remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted.,The Veteran's left knee condition and right arm conditions (right elbow and right shoulder) are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The case is being sent back for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology, onset, and relationship of any current left knee disability to service.

Effective December 1, 2021, the Veteran is granted increased ratings of 30 percent for ankylosis in both right and left knees. The previous separate rating for instability of the left knee was also granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension and 10 percent for recurrent subluxation or instability. The Board denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from March 11, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.