Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee pain and dysfunction, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain her complete service personnel records, including those related to her Pennsylvania National Guard service and verify all active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty of training (INACDUTRA) dates.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of PTSD, anxiety, depression, a disability manifested by chronic sleep impairment, and TDIU. The hearing loss claim is denied as it does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) prior to September 23, 2020 is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the cases for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left knee degenerative arthritis, status post ACL tear with surgical repair was denied by the RO. The VA examiner found no evidence of instability or meniscus condition in the left knee and noted that the Veteran had moderate functional limitations due to DJD.

The Veteran's new and relevant evidence was not considered, as the evidence submitted with his Supplemental Claim did not provide any new or relevant information to support his claim of service connection for left knee disability. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's right knee tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to noncompensable limitation of flexion with pain.,The Veteran's left lower extremity varicose veins are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found no evidence of persistent edema or other symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not rated compensable, and the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability with neuropathy is remanded due to a lack of an opinion regarding its onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disability and insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptoms or a link between the in-service injury and the current condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent for limitation of extension, effective January 10, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the previously denied service connection claims for a right pinky finger disorder, right hand disorder, and right knee disorder. The claims are now remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left knee strain, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee tendonitis and meniscal tear resulted in occasional 'locking' and the Board has granted a rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for this condition from January 25, 2021 to January 10, 2023.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee pain, a back scar, plantar fasciitis, a blood/bone condition, diabetes, and stroke. The claims of service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including post-traumatic arthritis and chondromalacia with limitation of flexion, is rated at 10 percent. A separate 20 percent rating for left knee lateral instability has been granted. The claims for service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities, as well as TDIU, are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric, foot, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The claims are related to service-connected hepatitis C.