Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, syncope with dizziness, and shingles (herpes zoster). The conditions are all found to have begun during service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, left leg shin splints, a left knee disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no evidence of current conditions or service connection.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis resulted in extension limited at worst to 20 degrees, and his right knee instability manifested as an incomplete ligament tear causing persistent instability. The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee instability.

The Veteran's left knee has been rated at 30 percent since January 6, 1997 and a maximum of 60 percent effective October 1, 2014 for service-connected residuals of the left knee status-post arthroplasty. The right knee was initially rated at 10 percent in February 2021 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on all service-connected disorders from January 6, 1997 until April 9, 1997, and due to major depressive disorder by itself after that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee degenerative arthritis, right tibial stress fracture, residuals of right ACL reconstruction, and right medial meniscectomy with partial lateral meniscectomy are all rated as they currently manifest.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational history.

The Board has denied service connection for external hemorrhoids, left ankle condition, limb pain left lower leg, limb pain right lower leg, right knee pain, and testicular hypofunction as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as TDIU effective February 21, 2024.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted effective February 21, 2024.,An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,A higher rating of hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of October 16, 2017. The Board granted an effective date of this date for his TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis has been granted with an effective date of September 19, 2019. The other claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthroplasty right knee, sleep apnea, and skin rash due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's low back disability, associated with a torn medial meniscus of the left knee, is rated at 40 percent prior to March 9, 2023. From that date forward, his condition does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease status post CABG), right knee amputation, and left knee amputation all related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee/leg, right knee/leg, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in assigning simultaneous evaluations for right knee replacement and limitation of extension, and because a final rating action is needed regarding these issues.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for left total knee replacement, left knee limitation of flexion, and painful left knee scar are all denied. The maximum rating for left total knee replacement is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective June 15, 2021, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the September 2022 rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's left knee disability is related to service, including a fall while skiing.