Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring new medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee total replacements are granted with a maximum disability rating of 60 percent, effective November 9, 2021. The claims for right and left knee surgical scars were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability was dismissed because the VA Forms 10182 were not filed within one year from the November 2019 decision, and no good cause was shown to extend the filing deadline.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, characterized as Osgood-Schlatter Disease - Osteochondromatosis, and manifested by pain and limited motion. Service connection for hypothyroidism is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement, migraine headaches, internal derangement of the right ankle, major depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis with IVDS and strain in the lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy in both lower extremities, left knee meniscectomy residuals, and left knee instability was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at June 14, 2014.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of October 29, 2018 for his right knee strain.,An earlier effective date of June 16, 2016 was granted for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip strain and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions that consider his lay statements about the onset of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of their right total knee arthroplasty and right knee surgical scar have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted, and he receives an initial disability rating of 60 percent for GERD. Other conditions receive increased or separate ratings.

An effective date of March 31, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right and left knee instability is granted.,A TDIU is granted based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, right foot condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.,VA also denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain of the lower back, right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder. The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome, Scleroderma disease, and Sjogren's disease are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been secured for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, warranting reconsideration of their service connection claims. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee pain is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia patella, finding that it was caused by his military service.