Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to moderate probability of noise exposure as military police. The Veteran's STRs from his time in the Army are missing, requiring further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee instability and PTSD has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings greater than 10 percent or 70 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and a higher rating for his back disability is denied. The Board found that the Veteran maintained substantially gainful employment until he stopped working in March 2020, which supports the current effective date of June 19, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with post traumatic arthritis were granted in a July 2022 rating decision, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal as moot.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability, acne, pseudofolliculitis barbae, knee disabilities, hip disabilities, and sinusitis. The reasons for remand include the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder. The claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, sciatica, lower back disability, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder are also remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement was validly initiated despite using an incorrect form, and thus granted his claims for disorders of the right knee and left knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and potential toxic exposure. The claims will be reviewed with consideration of any TERA at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran's death has led to the dismissal of all service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and medical opinions to determine if service connection can be granted for right knee disability and left knee disability as secondary to a right knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD and associated mental health disabilities have been manifested by impairment with deficiencies in most areas including work, family life, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board denied the claim for a disability rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD but granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and hand/knee disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or functional impairment supporting these claims.

The Veteran's depression symptoms have not reached a level of near-continuous panic or depression affecting her ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively. The Veteran maintains her personal hygiene, can manage her financial affairs, has intact judgment and thinking, and has established effective relationships with family members.,For the period on appeal, the Veteran's right knee extension was 15 degrees during flare-ups and with repeated use over time, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating under DC 5261.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia was denied as the evidence did not show extension limited to more than 20 degrees.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left shoulder condition was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion of the arm at shoulder level or to 25 degrees from side.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the prior rating decision. The AOJ will need to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during service, their relationship to his military duties, and any potential toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) related to Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 20, 2017, for service connection of right knee osteoarthritis with strain and meniscus tear. The decision found that the claim was continuously pursued from this date.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent.,The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, lower back, and sleep apnea disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.