Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion and incomplete work history provided by the AOJ.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating for her right knee disability because it was a concurrent review and not allowed by regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for athlete's foot, back disability, neck disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. The claims of service connection for anemia, dermatitis, and right knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for MDD with anxious distress was denied. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of his left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities at the time of January 2019 VA examinations.

The Veteran's left leg stress fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating due to flexion limited to no less than 40 degrees.,The Veteran's right leg stress fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, but the February 2021 VA examination is inadequate for determining whether a higher rating is warranted.

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

The Veteran's right knee brace caused wear and tear on her clothing, leading to a clothing allowance for the year 2020.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating from January 19, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings for her service connected right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndromes are denied. The appeal for service connection for cervical strain and right and left leg radiculopathy is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability including osteoarthritis and joint replacement, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury during basic training.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of evidence from his active-duty service period.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee strain, finding that these conditions are causally related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervicothoracic spine pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, right shoulder impingement syndrome, TMJ disorder, and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for left knee strain, finding that it is caused by his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than January 23, 2009 for the grant of a separate rating for limitation of flexion of the right knee, and for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion, dislocated semilunar cartilage, and instability of the right knee are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a right knee scar is denied.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated based on their current severity.,The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome knee conditions have not resulted in a rating higher than the assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right knee strain (limitation of extension) were also denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities as secondary to pre-existing conditions. The claims are being remanded for further adjudication.