Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 60 percent evaluation, effective as of the date of this decision.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative joint disease are both denied ratings in excess of their current evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in the current 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by him and his authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, including ventricular arrhythmia, as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The claims for COPD and knee conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee strain disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of lower back pain, right knee pain, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability and secondary service connection for right knee disability as aggravation of the left knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are established, and there is a link between his in-service injuries and his current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of right knee and left thumb and right knee scars has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee conditions are remanded due to a lack of a VA examination addressing his reported in-service injuries and symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his limitations on walking, sitting, standing, lifting, carrying, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's left knee conditions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for shin splints of the right leg with a residual total knee replacement and left leg with a residual knee strain, finding that no new claim was filed prior to December 19, 2014.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, left wrist disorder, left hand disorder, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disorder due to new and relevant evidence submitted since the March 2019 rating decision.,The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder but has not determined whether there is a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was received on June 21, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran had continuously pursued his claim since then and granted entitlement to TDIU with an effective date of June 21, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed to consider the lay statements and other evidence submitted in connection with his Supplemental Claim and Higher-Level Review Request.

The Veteran's skin condition of the hand is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's scars of the right knee are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found no basis to grant a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities has been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI does not require the need for personal healthcare services provided on a daily basis in his home by a person who is licensed to provide such services or who provides such services under the regular supervision of a licensed healthcare professional. The effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the requirements necessary to warrant special monthly compensation at any rate.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims at this time.