Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis, chondromalacia and strain. The decision is based on evidence showing a current disability (bilateral knee disabilities), an in-service injury or event (chronic bilateral knee pain during both periods of service), and a nexus between the current disabilities and the disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee strain as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The appeals for left knee injury, lumbar back pain, bilateral burn scars, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The appeal of post-traumatic stress disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability. The evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities or a link to active service.

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee strain, and right knee scars were granted effective June 13, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders as there was no competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right foot condition, and right knee condition are remanded due to pre-decisional errors.

An initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, from May 4, 2018 to the present, is granted. An initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee strain with limitation of flexion, from September 8, 2020 to the present, is denied. A separate initial 20 percent rating for left knee instability, from September 8, 2020 to the present, is granted.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for hypothyroidism from February 24, 2021, to June 9, 2021. The Veteran's right knee and bilateral foot pain issues are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for his right and left knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome to 50 percent effective September 26, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions as secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus. The case is being sent back for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a left knee disorder due to lack of qualifying active military, naval, air or space service. The veteran served as a merchant mariner but did not meet the legal definition of a veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary evidence and inadequate medical opinions.

Your appeals for service connection for bilateral shin splints and a left knee disability have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal on July 17, 2024.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left shoulder, and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records and a need for VA TERA examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of November 6, 1993 for service connection of patellofemoral pain syndrome and scar in both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and foot disabilities render him helpless, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability and left knee condition due to insufficient information in the VA opinions provided. The claims will be addressed again with additional evidence considered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience. The Board finds the totality of the evidence more probative than his lay statements in determining that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye condition, right shin condition (including a right knee condition), and left shin condition (including a left knee condition) are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine the etiology of these conditions.