Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and tendinopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, necessitating remand to obtain new evaluations.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim for migraines was not granted, and the remaining claims were readjudicated but ultimately denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for both left and right knee disorders due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current knee conditions are related to active service, specifically deployment in Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain but denied service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD). The Veteran's right knee strain is related to his in-service injury, while the DJD does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not start during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the March 2021 remand directives and thus, the case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for a left foot disorder, claimed as arthritis and joint pain, is denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for left and right knee strain, finding that the Veteran's conditions are manifested by painful motion without limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, status post left and right Achilles tendon surgery, and left knee chondromalacia disabilities. The opinion provided by a private healthcare provider established that the Veteran's weight gain from his service-connected conditions was a substantial factor in causing his OSA.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and arthritis were not shown to have been manifested by compensable limitations of flexion or extension, dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking and effusion into the joint, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, ankylosis, nonunion or malunion of the tibia or fibula, or genu recurvatum. As such, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tear and arthritis is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to errors in verifying the Veteran's service and obtaining an opinion on the etiology of his left knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee strains as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria of needing regular aid and assistance or being permanently housebound.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 18, 2015. The Board found that this arose on May 18, 2015, which is later than the February 22, 2012 date of claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee tendinitis and right knee tendinitis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new medical opinion is required to address the Veteran's contentions of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for instability and limitation of extension of the right knee, as well as a bilateral ankle condition. The denial is based on the absence of current disabilities that meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, chronic sinusitis, and right knee pain. The case is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there were no positive nexus opinions provided by VA physicians.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected depression and knee disabilities caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. As a result, service connection for OSA as secondary to these conditions is granted.