Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event related to the claimed female sexual arousal, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for the right leg disability, left leg disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is denied due to lack of an in-service disease or injury.,The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected, while his TBI and other conditions are denied. The left knee instability receives a separate rating of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for eczema, migraines, and a right knee disability due to potential exposure to toxins during service in Bahrain. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to these substances, chemicals, airborne hazards, and fine particulate matter.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not service connected, and has remanded for further action on his claim of sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service. The AOJ must obtain a new medical opinion and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for left lung polyp and left knee residuals of arthroscopic repair were denied effective dates earlier than the ones granted, with no effective date established before October 26, 2015, for left knee residuals.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective January 23, 2019.,The Veteran's left knee instability is granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective January 23, 2019.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the issue of service connection for chronic right knee pain with arthritis was not addressed in the May 2022 rating decision, and thus there is no initial decision to appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was not clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions in service. The Board also found no current disability related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The right lower leg atrophy claim is denied. The claims for bilateral knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence in some cases.,The Veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent, but not higher.

The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as these issues are no longer in dispute.,Right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of audiometric findings meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet with right foot bunion and left foot bunionectomy are not entitled to a rating in excess of 50 percent.,Right foot hallux valgus is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Left foot hallux valgus is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Right foot hallux valgus is not entitled to a compensable rating.,Left foot hallux valgus is not entitled to a compensable rating.,Left hip trochanteric pain syndrome with limitation of extension and impairment of abduction are not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Right knee chondromalacia patella and left knee chondromalacia patella are not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,Post-operative scars of the knees are not entitled to a compensable rating.,Right wrist strain is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Left wrist strain is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 26, 2020.,Duodenal ulcer with duodenitis is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,Atopic dermatitis is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent.

Your claim for service connection for chronic right knee pain has already been granted, and the effective date is March 4, 2020. The Board finds that there remains no justiciable case or controversy over which it may exercise jurisdiction.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and needs to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing whether it is aggravated by his service-connected knee disability and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions with obesity as an intermittent step. The evidence shows that the Veteran's weight gain, which is a result of his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions, led to his diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The claim for left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded.,The Veteran's current right knee condition, including osteoarthritis, was found to be related to his in-service injury and subsequent surgeries.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for his left knee condition should be remanded due to procedural issues and insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted as service-connected, and he is assigned a 10% rating.,His tinnitus disability has been rated at the maximum schedular rate of 10%, with no further increase possible under current criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates has been denied. The right hip strain is rated at the maximum schedular rating, and the left knee surgical scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.