Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and foot conditions, as well as a shoulder condition due to a duty to assist in obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left knee condition, both claimed as secondary to his right knee with traumatic arthritis. The issues will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings and compensable ratings on several knee conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has denied service connection for chest tightness, a left knee disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to the lack of current diagnoses in the record. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as it involves toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service.

The Veteran's PTSD was caused by his conceded combat stressors in the Gulf War, and he has a current diagnosis of left knee disability related to service.,Service connection is granted for both an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment prior to June 7, 2019. The Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not result in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, or limitation of extension to 15 degrees or more. The current ratings are therefore denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) secondary to his service-connected left knee strain with degenerative changes, finding that ED is related to both the pain from his left knee and the medication he uses to treat it.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5276.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his right ear corresponds to Level I and left ear to Level V on the VA audiometric tables. The highest rating available is zero percent.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees and extension limited to 115 degrees without ankylosis or instability.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disorders due to the lack of current diagnoses related to these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral shin splints was granted with an effective date of May 28, 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee arthritis is secondary to his service-connected right foot degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his flexion was limited to 110 degrees and there were no findings of instability or other disabling effects. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, migraines, and a left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active duty service is conceded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.,The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as substance abuse - alcohol; left knee disorder; and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since February 10, 2014. The effective date for these ratings is the date of receipt of his claim.

The Board denied service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea as there was no competent and probative evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI insurance was denied because it was not received within two years of the most recent grant of service connection, which occurred in October 2018. The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria as per 38 U.S.C. § 1922(a).