Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran is granted entitlement to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, which preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane. The issue of eligibility for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Board has found that the Veteran did suffer an in-service injury to his bilateral knees, but the VA examination was inadequate. The claims for service connection are remanded and a new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to determine if he has these conditions and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and a left knee disability as secondary to the now service-connected right knee are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, erectile dysfunction, left-hand disability, right knee strain, and left knee strain have been granted. Tinnitus has also been granted as a separate condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will need an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for clarification regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The AOJ is directed to obtain a VA medical examination addressing the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions, specifically plantar fasciitis in the left foot.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for right hand 4th digit PIP joint strain and a right knee disability due to missing service treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with all available records included.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disorder but has remanded his claims for back, bilateral knee disorders due to insufficient etiological opinions in previous examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and sustaining employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected left knee disability has been denied. The effective date of the award remains at September 12, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (radiculopathy), left hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee meniscus tear and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the claims for service connection have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and tinnitus are granted. The claim for service connection for a left knee condition is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at a 10 percent rating, effective June 25, 2002. The claim for increased ratings was denied.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective October 23, 2012, due to his service-connected migraines and other disabilities preventing him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.,Basic eligibility for DEA benefits was also granted effective October 23, 2012, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee tendonitis has been dismissed because the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the left knee and plantar fasciitis of the right foot prior to January 2, 2024, are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded as it was not raised by the Veteran prior to the September 2021 rating decision on appeal.