Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his lumbar condition is a congenital defect or if it was aggravated by military service. The VA examiner will need to provide opinions on these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his lumbar condition is a congenital defect or disease, and if so, whether it was aggravated by military service. The Veteran also seeks service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran had pre-existing left and right ankle disabilities or lower extremity neuropathy prior to service. The claims are remanded for further examination.

A separate 10 percent rating is granted for instability of the right knee from February 22, 2019. An earlier effective date of February 22, 2019, is granted for service connection and a 10 percent rating for left knee instability.

The Board has dismissed all claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to the Veteran's left knee disability, lumbar syndrome, LUE radiculopathy, and LLE radiculopathy due to improper docketing as AMA appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no new and relevant evidence to support reopening of the claims. The Board finds that the current gastrointestinal disability, low back disability, and right knee disability are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee disorder and his in-service fracture. The Veteran is requested to provide an addendum opinion on whether his current diagnosis of left knee joint osteoarthritis is related to a service-connected condition or if it began during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent hip, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to potential pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI, vertigo, sleep apnea, and neurological impairment of the upper and lower extremities due to cold exposure, have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran does not have these conditions or their claimed causes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of postoperative right knee lateral collateral ligament strain remains at 10 percent, while other conditions are either not granted or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the definition of hearing loss for VA purposes. The claims for left and right knee arthritis are remanded due to a failure to obtain an opinion on the theory of aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less, which would be required for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee DJD, as well as her claim for hypothyroidism due to lack of sufficient evidence at the time of the initial rating decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and left knee conditions, finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including right leg disability, left knee chondrocalcinosis, right foot osteoarthritis, left foot osteoarthritis, right hand osteoarthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis. The issues were all found to not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence and an inadequate nexus opinion. The VA will seek additional records, including from private facilities and incarceration periods, and schedule the Veteran for a new examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain her Reserve service records and provide TERA opinions regarding certain conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current left knee disabilities, specifically whether they are related to his in-service chondromalacia patella and subsequent ruptured patellar tendon.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a total schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities, and no single disability alone establishes unemployability.