Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings and effective dates for various disabilities remains pending due to the AOJ not yet readjudicating the claims in the modernized review system (AMA).,Issues related to left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, lumbosacral strain with DJD, cervical strain with DJD, and tinnitus are still under consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, is related to his active-duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of left hand sprain, left hip iliopsoas tendinitis, right hip iliopsoas tendinitis, bilateral pes planus, left knee strain, and right knee strain. These issues are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider them on the merits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to readjudicate his claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeals for right shoulder and right knee disabilities, resulting in the dismissal of these cases.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral knee strain and degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (previously denied as lower back condition) due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals of all listed conditions, and as a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, left leg arthritis, and right leg arthritis. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (m) is granted from March 15, 2011 to March 8, 2012. The Board also grants an earlier effective date prior to June 18, 2014, for entitlement to special monthly compensation (p)(m1/2).

The Board has denied a higher evaluation for the Veteran's left knee proximal posterior tibia osteochondroma, finding that the evidence does not show limitation of motion more nearly approximating flexion limited to 30 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a final decision being made.

The Board has remanded both the left foot and left knee disability claims due to inadequate examination and medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow lateral epicondylitis, and bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are all granted as service-connected. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claim for bipolar disorder and the issues of COPD, hypertension, left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and left elbow disability are being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for the left knee meniscal tear and left shoulder rotator cuff tear.