Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle peripheral edema and bilateral knee scars due to a lack of a VA examination, which is necessary to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and meniscectomy residuals, is rated at 20 percent for the entire appeal period. The rating for limitation of flexion remains denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to acoustic noise trauma sustained in service and has continued since service.,The Veteran's right knee condition, previously claimed as swelling and locking of the knee, had its onset during service after an injury and has continued since service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities and major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, left foot, and left knee conditions due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical examination to address the nature and etiology of any respiratory disability, including service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran's psychiatric condition, back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for right knee traumatic arthritis is denied, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her right and left knee disabilities were denied, with an effective date set at August 3, 2020.,An earlier effective date prior to August 3, 2020, was not granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to confusion in the evidence, requiring a new VA compensation examination to assess the nature and severity of left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability and tinnitus have been granted. The right knee condition is rated at 60 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for tinnitus has also been established.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's U.S. Marine Corps service records, which were incorrectly listed with an incorrect social security number.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left groin injury (claimed as left thigh muscle stain/pull), and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's right knee and cervical spine conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee pain conditions as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension. The claims of service connection for left knee condition and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip total arthroplasty, right knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis, and left knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis, all of which are related to the Veteran's in-service parachute injury.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also grants a separate disability rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for limitation of extension of the left knee and a separate disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and an issue regarding pre-existing gastrointestinal disability. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and right elbow disabilities are being examined, as is his bilateral glaucoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, right knee disability, unspecified depressive disorder, sciatic nerve radiculopathies, femoral nerve radiculopathies, and tension-migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 5, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disability, right knee scars, left hand fractures, forehead scar, and left lateral thigh scar have been granted with effective dates prior to October 19, 2020.,However, the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability has an effective date of December 21, 2009.