Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and denied service connection for hypertension, OSA, cervical spine arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and lumbar spine arthritis. The Veteran's right knee strain is found to be related to his in-service symptoms and post-service treatment. However, the Board determined that there was no nexus between the current diagnosis of hypertension and the elevated blood pressure readings during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative arthritis pre-existed service and was aggravated by service, thus granting service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Left knee GSW scars are not compensable as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Right elbow GSW with traumatic arthritis and ulnar neuropathy warrants remand due to insufficient evidence on its current rating of 30 percent.,Right ear hearing loss is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, status post total arthroplasty, is denied a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and IVDS is denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy from March 6, 2019, is granted a disability rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy has not been rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 22, 2021 for the grant of a higher disability rating for left knee status post meniscal tear and anterior cruciate ligament tear. The evidence did not show that prior to this date, the Veteran's left knee flexion was limited to 15 degrees or less.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (also claiming other specific depressive disorder), muscle joint pain of the right knee, gastric ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, respiratory insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and right hip strain. The decision is based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted a revision of the April 6, 2021 decision to reflect an earlier effective date of February 5, 2012 for the grant of individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU). The Veteran's TDIU claim was inferred during the course of his appeal for service connection claims.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for right shin splints and chronic sinusitis.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis is granted due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for a respiratory condition, heat stroke, bilateral ear infections, heart condition, migraine headaches, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded for further development.,,,,,,,,

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the cases for further action.

The Veteran's left knee instability was granted a rating of 10 percent prior to February 7, 2021. From that date, the Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis with painful motion are both denied ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and lumbar conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, post-total knee arthroplasty with tendonitis, are rated at 60 percent each. The decision grants higher initial ratings for both knees.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors and the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his bilateral foot and knee disabilities need further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee or back disability, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, snoring, fatigue, insomnia, hearing loss, chronic left hip pain, and cerumen impaction (claimed as chronic ear infection), have been denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to knee conditions, shoulder conditions, migraine headaches, and overactive bladder.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right ankle, left ankle, left knee, and right knee.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board finds the Veteran's sleep apnea claim must be remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's statements, personnel record, and a fellow servicemember's statement support the need for a VA examination to determine if his current knee disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and acne due to insufficient evidence in the record. The left knee and stomach ulcers claims are denied as there is no objective medical evidence supporting these conditions.