Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep disturbances, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, back injury, left knee condition, and right knee condition are all granted. However, the rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the most persuasive evidence does not support a higher rating than 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder or noncompensable for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for migraines, right shoulder disability, left foot disability (pes planus), right foot disability (pes planus), and right knee disability are remanded. The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claims for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spine condition, right elbow condition, and right shoulder condition. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Right Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, with a rating of 50% effective December 4, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection claims for PTSD, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis and right knee strain due to a lack of verification of the Veteran's reserve component service dates.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his GERD and OSA, as well as a VA examination for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The AOJ will consider any new evidence submitted during this process.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, headaches, hernia disability, sleep apnea, bruxism, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support these claims.

The Veteran's back, right knee, and sinusitis disabilities are remanded for further medical opinions to determine if they were aggravated by service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that it is caused by his service-connected left knee disability and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability or caused by obesity. The examiner must provide opinions on both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle and left knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an injury or disease during active duty or reserve training that caused or aggravated his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is dismissed due to procedural issues.,Earlier effective dates of February 8, 2006 are granted for service connection for syncope and left and right knee strains.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a right knee meniscal condition or instability prior to May 14, 2019. The cases are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, requesting the immediate withdrawal of all issues on appeal including unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral shoulder condition (previously diagnosed as left acromioclavicular joint separation and right pectoralis tendon rupture), and right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for scars on his right knee have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw these issues.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically arthritis, is granted as service-connected due to continuity of symptoms since retirement and the presumption of service connection for arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused his current condition. The Board also found no secondary service connection as the left knee disability did not cause or aggravate the right knee disability.