Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that it is as likely as not related to parachute jumps during service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted with an effective date of July 11, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right leg/knee condition. The AOJ will obtain missing STRs, military personnel records, and conduct an examination to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, left inguinal hernia, and left groin scar disabilities due to inadequate examinations at the time of the prior rating decisions. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip chronic gluteus medius calcific tendinitis and right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that these conditions were aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right ankle osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's tinnitus, cervical spine condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee, left knee condition, left shin condition, and ankle conditions are all granted as service connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence showing their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability from December 31, 2008 to February 6, 2021 and a 20 percent rating thereafter.,Effective May 1, 2011, the Veteran is granted service connection for a painful scar of the right knee following his right knee surgery in 2011.,Effective May 1, 2011, the Veteran is also granted service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve and anterior crural and internal saphenous nerves following his right knee surgery in 2011.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to a right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of increased rating for left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service treatment records. The Veteran's conditions include bilateral hearing loss, head injury, left and right knee conditions, left and right foot conditions, and left and right shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as service connection for right knee instability, are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA will need to obtain another VA examination to determine the severity of these conditions throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the appropriate ratings for various disabilities, including right and left foot hallux valgus, cervical spine disability, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, heart disease, and bilateral insertional tendonitis. The claims are being remanded to obtain necessary examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, right knee disability, and left knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional evidence will be sought and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's left and right knee conditions have been rated based on their current functional impairment. The Board has found the evidence insufficient to grant ratings in excess of 20 percent for limitation of extension of both knees, as the Veteran's range of motion remains within acceptable limits.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee tendinitis with degenerative arthritis, and other conditions has been withdrawn. The VA is remanding the claims for service connection for various conditions due to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).,The VA is remanding the claims for service connection for a back condition, headaches, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral leg condition, functional dysphagia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee injury, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Your appeals for higher initial evaluations for right total knee arthroplasty and right knee surgical scar have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal will not resume if a surviving family member requests substitution.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot pes planus, plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and calcaneal spur (left foot disability), left knee strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), and right ankle degenerative joint disease (right ankle disability) on a direct basis.

Your appeal for service connection of a fractured left knee pain/condition has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on this matter as it is no longer pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted for the period prior to March 4, 2021. The reduction in rating from 20 percent to zero percent for right knee instability was improper and restored. Higher ratings are granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic and femoral nerves). An effective date of February 17, 2018, is granted for the grant of service connection for right ankle disability.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.,Service connection has been granted for both left and right knee conditions. Both knees are currently assigned a 100 percent rating.