Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are granted a 20 percent rating, and his right knee condition is granted service connection. The highest schedular rating for the hemorrhoids is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. His right knee condition, including limitation of motion and symptomatic cartilage removal, is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The left and right knee conditions were remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his right knee replacement was dismissed due to the withdrawal by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disorder was dismissed because he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement within the one-year period following the denial of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied due to lack of current disability. The Veteran's IBS with abdominal adhesions is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic code.,For her service-connected appendectomy scar, a VA examination is needed to determine the number and nature of scars related to her appendectomy.

The claims for left and right knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a relationship to service. The claim for herpes was granted with an effective date of March 2, 2020, but the Veteran's appeal seeks an earlier effective date which is denied. The claim for a compensable rating for herpes is denied due to lack of active symptoms and treatment. The claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is also denied as there were no such disabilities during the period in question.

The Veteran's increased ratings for migraine headaches and right knee strain were denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left knee, and leg disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, which renders moot his housebound status claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a back disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations. The AOJ is required to provide the Veteran with VA examinations to determine if his disabilities are related to service, including as due to undiagnosed illness or MUCMI.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to procedural errors. The Board found that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted for his left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for his left distal fibular fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to be provided with VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete service records, particularly those from the Veteran's National Guard service. The AOJ is instructed to make further efforts to obtain these records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted. The claims for left and right knee disabilities are denied, as there is no current disability or evidence of a nexus to service. Service connection for the neck disability is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar strain, and depression. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions were caused by the Veteran's service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck pain, back pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal of a restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for a left knee painful surgical scar was dismissed due to procedural defects, as the AOJ had already issued a Higher-Level Review decision regarding this issue.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, sleep apnea, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis have been denied as the submitted evidence is not new and relevant.,For left knee strain and lumbosacral strain (previously claimed as lumbar condition), the claims are remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions.