Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxious distress with panic attacks, left clavicle fracture residuals, cervical strain, left knee tendinopathy, and left ankle sprain, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The rating reductions for both left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were improper, as the evidence did not show improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work. The ratings have been restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and left hip disability due to inadequate opinions in prior VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered with new medical opinions addressing whether the disabilities are related to active duty service or aggravated by such service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment, as he has reported working as an independent insurance agent.

Your appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed because you withdrew your claims at the July 30, 2024 hearing.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disorders, including lumbar spine DJD and bilateral knee DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 12, 2006. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA are granted as of that date.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 1, 2006 for the award of a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee injuries do not qualify for a higher rate of educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 due to the discharge being from the U.S. Army Reserve, not 30 continuous days of creditable active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision concludes that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease and erectile dysfunction are found to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected complex regional pain syndrome, residuals of fractured right wrist.,The Veteran's multilevel cervical spondyloarthropathy is not found to be secondary to his service-connected condition. The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not found to be related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in determining the effective date for TDIU. The Veteran's income from July 28, 2021, to July 29, 2022, needs to be verified by Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee instability due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need for further examination.

The Board has denied a higher rating for peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity and remanded the cases of arthritis, left hip, lumbosacral strain, degenerative joint disease, right knee, and right ankle strain.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability or functional impairment caused by these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate gland disability, hypothyroidism, right knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to procedural errors in the development process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain has been dismissed, and the claim for bilateral knee condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, lower (lumbar spine) back pain/condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, right inguinal hernia and residuals, lower (lumbar spine) back pain/condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition do not have a direct relationship to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in her prior claim. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The appeals for service connection for stroke, left eye condition, and right knee condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.