Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 or survivor's pension benefits. The appeal for accrued benefits is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypertension have been granted. The claim for increased evaluation for tinnitus has been dismissed, while the claims for service connection for low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, scar of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, individual unemployability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, urinary condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals of the compensable rating for left knee scar and service connection for urinary condition have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus was not permanently aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection is granted for a bilateral knee condition, including left knee dislocation and right knee instability, as these conditions are presumed to have started during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability status post right knee anterior cruciate ligament repair surgery is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has found the VA examination inadequate for rating purposes and has therefore remanded the case for a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection grants are granted with effective dates of December 17, 2018.,An earlier effective date of December 17, 2018, is granted for the awards of service connection for left knee limitation of extension and right knee instability.

The Board has determined that an effective date of November 27, 2019 is warranted for the award of a 70 percent rating for MDD. The Veteran's claims for right hip and left knee disabilities as well as TDIU are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed due to procedural issues. The VA granted an initial disability evaluation of 10 percent for left foot strain and denied any higher evaluations for the left long finger and ring finger disorders. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders and right and left shoulder disorders, as a VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 15, 2016 for the grant of service connection for left knee instability and left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no prior pending claim that could be considered.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and an addendum opinion is needed to consider the aggregate effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding a medical nexus between the Veteran's current diagnoses and in-service injuries.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unemployable prior to December 8, 2023. After that date, his disability rating was increased to 100%, making the TDIU issue moot.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee as secondary to a service-connected right ankle sprain and for tinnitus, both conditions found to be related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations addressing pre-service conditions and aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypertension have been granted. The claim for increased evaluation for tinnitus has been dismissed, while the claims for service connection for low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, scar of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, individual unemployability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The left knee disability issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as associated scars. The issues have not been decided yet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a below the knee left leg amputation associated with diabetes mellitus type II was granted effective July 15, 2021.