Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that his current conditions are more likely than not caused by an in-service parachute injury.

The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee condition. The Veteran's obesity was not found to be a compensable disability. Service connection was denied for jaw condition, skin condition (claimed as athletes' foot), bilateral hearing loss, ED secondary to PTSD, TBI, migraine headaches, residual scar of the head/scalp, scar of the lower back, and right shoulder and right foot scars.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a mental health condition, right knee conditions, and a right foot big toe or toenail condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an eye condition, major depressive disorder (MDD), and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing these conditions as incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee strain due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is believed to be related to injuries he sustained while playing basketball and football in 1973 during his active-duty Marine service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 13, 2021 for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, left thumb disability, heart condition, hypertension, right and left knee disabilities, peripheral neuropathies in the upper and lower extremities, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and remanded the issues of left knee disability ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs an addendum opinion regarding whether the service-connected left knee disability aggravated the right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the evaluation of left hip strain with trochanteric pain syndrome and thigh limitation of extension is dismissed.,Several issues related to non-allergic rhinitis, left hip strain, right knee strain, and left knee tendonitis are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's T-11 anterior wedge compression fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to limited forward flexion.,The Veteran's left knee patella tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and there is no evidence of more than the normal limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his right knee scars and effective date claims.,His depressive disorder claim has been granted with a 50% rating, but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disorder, diagnosed as right knee internal derangement, finding that the pre-existing condition worsened during service.

The Veteran's right knee disability and PTSD with major depression are being remanded for further review.,Specifically, the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to a TDIU need to be reconsidered.

The Board has found a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the type of service (ACDUTRA or INACDURA) during which the Veteran allegedly injured his left knee. The Veteran served in the Marine Corps Reserve and claims he was on INACDUTRA when he injured himself, but there is conflicting evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right and left knee osteoarthritis as there were inconsistencies in the examination report regarding instability, which is a critical issue. The Veteran will need further medical evaluation to determine the extent of his knee conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right knee scars associated with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were awarded effective April 19, 2018. The Board found that the earlier effective dates for these benefits are warranted based on the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.,The decision also notes that the Veteran has a permanent total service-connected disability from his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating issues related to psychiatric disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left thumb disability. The Veteran's disabilities are being examined again to determine their etiology and severity.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.