Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The appeal for psychiatric disorder is being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and shoulder disorders as the evidence does not show current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service parachute jumping duties. Service connection for a left leg disability was denied as there was no evidence of such a disability.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for left knee strain with tendonitis, limitation of extension, as the evidence did not show that the Veteran's knee had limited extension to more than 15 degrees.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability and a right knee disability, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis is granted, while the claims for sinusitis, myopia, cervical spine disability with arthritis, erectile dysfunction, left ankle sprain and Achilles tendon disability, left shoulder sprain, right shoulder sprain, pulled groin, left knee strain, right knee strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right ankle sprain and Achilles tendon disability, left carpal tunnel disability, right carpal tunnel disability, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage), left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage), and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as nerve damage) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of his claimed hip or knee disabilities, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to missing service treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran's active duty service in Iraq is also unclear.

The Veteran's back brace and bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear to his clothing, specifically causing damage to shirts from the back brace and pants from the knee braces. The Board granted three annual clothing allowances for the 2021 calendar year based on this finding.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal through their authorized representative.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for a left knee disability and the temporary total evaluation claim due to insufficient medical opinions in the file. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for various knee and shoulder conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, and VA will schedule further examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for painful motion with flexion, and the Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for painful motion with flexion, and the Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's claims based on in-service knee pain and post-service symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical nexus opinions in December 2020 and June 2023. The claims are being remanded for new VA examinations to address the issues of a low back disability, left and right knee disabilities, left and right foot disabilities, and a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left knee disability and service.

The Veteran's prior rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain (low back condition) is restored, while his right shoulder and left knee disabilities are denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's left and right knee conditions are granted restoration of a 10 percent disability rating, effective July 14, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his in-service injury or disease.