Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent from June 1, 2020. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left ankle conditions, as well as right and left knee conditions, are remanded due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's right knee surgical scars have not been shown to be manifested by five or more scars that are unstable or painful, and thus the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left leg pain disability, right foot arthritis, back pain secondary to a left leg pain disability, and right knee disability secondary to a left leg pain disability. The remaining claims of service connection for right foot arthritis, back pain secondary to left leg pain, and right knee disability secondary to left leg pain are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and potential errors in the duty to assist. The Board cannot consider evidence not submitted at the time of the March 2021 decision on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis was dismissed because the August 2020 rating decision did not constitute an initial decision under the AMA and remained in the Legacy review system.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings effective November 19, 2020. The effective date for the service connection of these conditions is also set at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding reductions in ratings for various lower extremity and right knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a reduction or restoration of ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

Service connection for tingling in fingers of the right and left hands, back pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain is denied.,Service connection for memory loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a vision condition is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,Service connection for low back and left knee conditions is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for right knee and bilateral hearing loss conditions is denied as the evidence does not show any link to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart palpitations is granted, with the condition being proximately due to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the attorney withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal disease, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis and the medication prescribed for those disabilities.

The Veteran is in receipt of a total (100%) schedular rating from December 21, 2017. The appeal for TDIU prior to December 21, 2017, has been denied as the effective date was granted earlier.

The Veteran's left knee disability was restored to a 20% rating effective November 6, 2020 after it had been reduced from 10%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on a secondary basis have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion provided in the June 2021 rating decision is inadequate and requires further examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, should be remanded due to pre-decisional errors in the VA's duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear and left knee degenerative arthritis, both dating back to the Veteran's military service.