Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been granted. The TDIU claim is also granted, but the effective date for the right knee disability remains unchanged.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 14, 2020 for the grants of service connection for left knee instability and left knee sprain. The decision found that the Veteran did not timely appeal the December 2018 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the extent that it is caused by the Veteran's right knee disability, which led to obesity and subsequently developed into obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal/digestive condition are denied.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands several issues for further development, including psychiatric disorders, back disability, sleep apnea, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for a right elbow condition, right knee condition, and fractured finger, left little finger have all been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a left upper extremity condition manifesting in tingling from the left elbow to the left little finger has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, finding that it began during active service and continues to this day.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was characterized by pain, but not by compensable limitation of extension or flexion. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disorders due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of current disabilities or functional impairment resulting from such conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his attorney.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate information regarding the Veteran's tinnitus and left knee disability. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee status post meniscectomy was rated at 10% under the old rating criteria, but no compensable rating could be assigned based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee tendonitis/tendinosis.,The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and tendonitis, is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee tendonitis/tendinosis. The claim for PTSD remains remanded due to a duty to assist error.,PTSD claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to October 28, 2014 for service connection of a painful surgical scar on her left knee and for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis. The effective date was set at October 28, 2014 due to the Veteran's surgery that day. The Board found no earlier effective date as the evidence did not show entitlement arose prior to this date.

The appeal regarding the propriety of severing service connection for bilateral pes planus is dismissed.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, and degenerative arthritis of the spine as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the prior VA examination and lack of medical evidence linking his current conditions to service.,Specifically, the right knee meniscal tear claim is being remanded because there are no addendum opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding an in-service injury. The left knee strain with PFPS and OSA claims are also being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee retro-patellar syndrome with osteoarthritis are both rated at 20 percent, effective July 20, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA treatment records.