Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left knee disability, rated at 30 percent prior to October 27, 2023, is not entitled to a higher rating as the current evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and bilateral varicose veins, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's Disease was denied. The claims for residuals of deviated nasal septum, skin disability other than dermatitis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and eye disability (secondary to hypertension) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

PTSD is granted with a 100% rating effective April 17, 2020.,Right knee flexion and left knee flexion are each granted a 20% rating effective December 28, 2020.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted a 20% rating effective December 28, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status as he is able to perform most daily activities independently, including walking short distances without assistance.

The appeals for the proposed decreases in evaluations for right and left knee strains with arthritis are dismissed. The claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left wrist joint pain, eye disability, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disorder has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as there are no remaining issues to review.

The Veteran is granted a temporary total rating for convalescence due to right knee surgery from June 12, 2020, with a 30-day extension until October 12, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee ACL repairs due to a lack of adequate examination records. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being evaluated again.

The Board has determined that errors occurred prior to the March 2021 rating decision and requires remand for further action, including obtaining private treatment records, clarifying disability benefits received, and scheduling a VA knee examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee, right shoulder, and right foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions originated during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury and noting that any current condition is more likely due to post-service employment at the United States Postal Office.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the right knee and scar disability claims, requiring VA examinations to be conducted for proper evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left ankle arthritis, and hypertension. The claims of entitlement to service connection for migraines and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

For the entire appeal period, a rating of 30 percent for left knee strain with instability is granted.,The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction (claimed as secondary to PTSD and MDD) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the AOJ implicitly considered new and relevant evidence (a November 2021 VA medical opinion) when denying service connection for bilateral knee disabilities. The Board is remanding both issues due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip strain, as it may be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left leg disability, which is rated as status post left below knee amputation, has already been assigned the maximum rating of 40 percent. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to the nature of the amputation and the current rating being the highest possible under the applicable criteria.