Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, as well as the Veteran's claim of secondary OSA to his PTSD. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection.,The left ankle condition is denied as not related to military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, left knee, right knee, and left foot conditions due to a lack of adequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of service treatment records and other relevant medical evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all available VA treatment records prior to 1999, as well as any pre-surgery, during surgery, and post-surgery medical records related to the Veteran's total knee replacement procedures in and around 2004.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral flat feet was dismissed as the benefit sought has already been granted in full. The claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition and sinusitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition, right knee condition, and low back condition due to insufficient medical opinions in the October 2020 VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The left and right knee disabilities were denied as not incurred during or caused by his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, tinnitus, and hearing loss due to potential errors in the previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for left knee strain is dismissed due to a procedural defect.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition. The VA must seek an additional opinion that considers the impact of obesity on the Veteran's right knee.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain and lower back pain as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, Barrett's Esophagus, left knee, and right hip disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The VA examinations are needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee strains, as well as left and right shoulder strain and labral tear. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service complaints of knee and shoulder pain during physical readiness training.,Reasoning: The evidence shows that the Veteran reported knee and shoulder pain during his military service, which led to diagnoses such as knee strain and shoulder impingement.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that his flexion and extension did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left knee condition, service connection for neck pain, and service connection for back pain were denied because the evidence did not show that the conditions occurred in or were caused by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis status-post meniscal surgery was granted with an effective date of January 2, 1988.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a right tibia fracture status post right ankle arthrodesis and intramedullary fixation with leg length discrepancy is denied. A separate 10 percent rating, but not higher, is granted for posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to service and is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder sprain, plantar fascitis, pes planus, and hallux valgus with degenerative changes.

The Board has granted the restoration of SMC at the housebound level, correcting an improper severance decision issued in May 2020.