Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis should be remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including those for increased ratings and earlier effective dates. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the AOJ decision on appeal is not complete and requires additional evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition, and left hip condition are all being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and an initial compensable rating for his service-connected common headaches are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, back, right foot, and left foot conditions based on the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's annual clothing allowances for left and right knee braces were approved by the VA, making the appeal moot.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling for limitation of extension and 10 percent disabling for residual pain post meniscal surgery. A separate rating of 20 percent has been granted for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a lower back condition and a right knee condition due to the lack of VA examinations, which were necessary given the Veteran's lay statements and unobtainable service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of meniscal tears with degenerative arthritis had their onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, including left knee limitation of motion, low back strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis, right shoulder tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and raticulopathy left lower extremity. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obesity caused or aggravated his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, which in turn caused or aggravated his OSA.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces, used to treat his service-connected left and right knee conditions, caused wear and tear on his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for calendar year 2020 based on this finding.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for pension benefits related to a left knee injury, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions caused him to become obese, which was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea. The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain including status post discectomy residuals with IVDS, bilateral calcaneal heel spur, bilateral achilles tendonitis, and bilateral knee strain with history of patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's osteomyelitis and his service-connected left zygoma fracture. The appellant asserts that the cause of death was related to the service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected left knee strain, status post meniscectomy, finding that the evidence supported a finding of symptomatic residuals from removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for a back brace, left ankle brace, and left knee brace in 2021 due to insufficient evidence of damage to clothing. The claim for menthol camphor gel topical medication was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar warts have been granted a 10 percent disability rating for each foot.,The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and left knee chondromalacia are both remanded to the AOJ for further development.