Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disorders due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing whether his bilateral hip and right knee disorders are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis on an aggravation basis and tinnitus, but dismissed the claim of left knee disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection is established for right knee degenerative arthritis with ACL repair and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left and right knee disability due to an error in obtaining medical opinions prior to the April 2022 rating decision. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service, as well as post-service medical records showing treatment for knee pain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and pes planus of both feet. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had these conditions during her active service or at any time since then.,For plantar fasciitis of the left foot, the Board found no current disability meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and remanded the claims of service connection for right hip, left elbow, right elbow, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee strain.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression and anxiety disorder, was found to be causally linked to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. His tinnitus was also granted based on credible reports of in-service noise exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her right knee and left knee conditions due to prior decisions in the legacy system. The Veteran's claim is not currently before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claims for back and left knee conditions are remanded due to inadequate opinions in the March 2022 VA examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC based on this need.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, left ankle instability, lower back condition, and right knee pain as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5261 for limitation of extension to 10 degrees. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of more than 10 degrees of extension.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it prior to a decision being made.

Your service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability and a right knee disability have been granted, effective from June 29, 2021. The Board has dismissed your appeals as the claims were fully addressed in the December 2023 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or within the applicable presumptive period and concluding that the current disorders are not related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, and the claims for left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased rating of the Veteran's right knee disability due to incomplete evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 30, 2023. The Board found that the Veteran is precluded from substantial gainful employment due to his functional limitations caused by multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to an inadequate medical examination. The examiner was not able to provide information about the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups.