Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a clothing allowance for a left knee brace, which was granted in an earlier decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as it is no longer under consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is denied. The earliest possible effective date is April 17, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for acne is denied. The earliest possible effective date is April 16, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability (other than left anterior cruciate ligament repair) and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's complete service treatment records, including clinical records, need to be obtained. An opinion from an appropriate clinician is required regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis and instability, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, finding no causal relationship to his in-service injury and that it is not secondary to his service-connected hallux valgus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the claims for an increased disability rating and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, hip and feet disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to an injury sustained during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for recurrent moderate major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae residual anterior neck scars, and right eye corneal scars.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral knee amputation with peripheral vascular disease, chronic microvascular ischemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, which is secondary to his right knee disability. Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension have been dismissed as there was a concurrent appeal pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), PTSD, a back condition, high blood pressure, a hip condition, a left knee condition, skin cancer of the right arm, and sciatica are remanded due to failure to conduct VA examinations as scheduled.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee condition, to include as secondary to a right knee condition, for further development and an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is granted a separate 10 percent rating, and his meniscal tear remains at a 10 percent rating. The decision does not address service connection theory or exposure basis.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and remanded the low back disability claim for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various joint disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to errors in the duty to assist and regulatory requirements. The Board finds that additional development is needed, particularly regarding medical opinions related to exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical records.