Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn all appeals related to the issues listed on the title page. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder and ankle conditions due to a failure to verify his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and because VA did not provide an adequate examination regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the AOJ failed to obtain a VA examination addressing all theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection and obesity as an intermediate step. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability that is secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected left knee disability, finding that the pain from the service-connected left knee causes increased pressure on the right knee arthritis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for a right knee condition, right hip condition, and low back condition as they are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the etiology of his knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disabilities, including arthritis, strain, and instability, are related to his active-duty service. However, due to insufficient medical opinions provided by the AOJ, a new examination is required to determine if these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia status post plica surgery due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his left knee instability, and he should be afforded another VA examination to correct this pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate examination. The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service, but there is no evidence of chronicity of care.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and he meets the requirements for aid and attendance from another. As a result, his claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee Baker's cyst, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions and missing medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of evidence and an inadequate VA examination, which may affect the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his obesity, which in turn is due to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine, degenerative disc and joint disease; residuals of right ACL instability; right hip strain with osteoarthritis; left knee degenerative arthritis; right knee instability; and right tibial stress fracture. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, earaches, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hip conditions, shoulder conditions, hand and knee arthritis, lumbago, plantar fasciitis, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to service for any condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions. The appeals are not granted as there is no current disability found by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, right and left knee conditions, migraines, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with dizziness and staggering, urinary dysfunction, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's statements and medical opinions supported these findings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities. The right knee disability, neck disability, and major depressive disorder claims are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.,The Board has also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder due to a lack of sufficient medical opinion regarding its onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle osteoarthritis, left ankle disorder, right knee condition, and neck condition due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or continuity of symptomatology since service.