Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 6, 2013, for the awards of service connection for left shoulder strain and left knee patellofemoral syndrome status/post meniscectomy have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder strain and 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome status/post meniscectomy are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the 40 percent ratings for left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, as well as the 30 percent ratings for right and left knee flexion limited to 9 degrees, have been remanded.,The effective date for the award of service connection for OSA is granted on April 2, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and right ankle condition due to a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decision duty to assist error and the claim must be remanded for further action, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an adequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tear, painful scars, and surgical scars with effective dates starting from February 5, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, and if so, whether obesity was a substantial factor in causing OSA.

The Veteran's right ankle, right knee, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are all found to be related to his military service.,His acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to his military service.

The appeal concerning the earlier effective date for the award of a 60% rating for total right knee arthroplasty is dismissed. The Veteran's other claims and benefits are addressed, with some granted and others denied.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and left knee condition due to a lack of current diagnoses. The claims for musculoskeletal-neck/upper back (cervical spine), nerve paralysis, and degenerative arthritis of the back are remanded as there were no medical opinions provided regarding their etiology.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 3, 2021. After that date, his combined permanent and total schedular rating does not allow for additional TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral knee disability due to conflicting opinions regarding the preexistence and aggravation of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability in either knee, and the current ratings are considered appropriate.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's accounts credible and grants service connection for his tinnitus. Service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Service connection for rhinitis and neck disability claims are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his left knee disability, including instability and arthritis, requires further development due to inadequate VA examinations conducted prior to the November 2020 rating decision.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to support readjudication of the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and potential inextricably intertwined TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his left elbow and knee disabilities was denied. The reduction in the rating for left knee flexion from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective October 6, 2020, is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the left and right knees are granted. The left knee condition is related to a fall during reserve training in December 1968, while the right knee condition is secondary to the left knee condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that it is related to his in-service injury.