Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's claim for his left knee disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disability, while his right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right knee or right shoulder disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The case must be remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any current disabilities of the right shoulder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including above the right knee amputation and diabetic peripheral neuropathies of both lower extremities, render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities without assistance. The Board has granted SMC at the R-1 rate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, hair loss, penile disability, hypertension, heart disability, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100 percent rating, and his left total knee arthroplasty residuals are granted a 60 percent rating prior to November 8, 2021, with no higher. The Veteran's request for a TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with knee strain was not found to meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating prior to November 8, 2019, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent after that date.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for suprapatellar tendinitis of the left knee due to inadequate examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability due to the absence of evidence of a current disability, and found no causal relationship between in-service events and the claimed condition.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is remanded as required by the PACT Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his right knee surgical scar, finding that it did not meet the criteria under Diagnostic Code (DC) 7802 due to its size and lack of underlying soft tissue damage.

The Veteran's annual clothing allowance for the 2021 calendar year is being remanded due to unclear decision notice and lack of evidence. The AOJ must provide a clear decision with identification of denied items and any supporting evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, particularly chronic sinusitis and orthopedic conditions.

The Board has denied an increased disability rating for left knee strain with iliotibial band syndrome, and the case is remanded for further examination of right knee pain.,The appellant's current right knee condition may be related to his in-service diagnosis of bilateral iliotibial band syndrome.

The appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the rating for service-connected left knee meniscal tear with ACL tear from 20 percent to 10 percent disabling is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and right knee scar were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as osteochondral defect, status post repair. The decision affirms that this condition was present during service and continues to exist today.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability should be remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran had in-service complaints and treatment related to his left knee, but no VA examination was provided prior to the August 2021 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, finding no evidence that it was incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain as secondary to his service-connected left knee strain, finding that the current disability is but-for due to and worsened by the service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right and left knee conditions due to improper docketing.