Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 30 percent from July 1, 2003. The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in 2015 and 2018 were inadequate for rating purposes due to their focus on service connection rather than severity. The claim is being remanded for an adequate examination.

The Board has remanded the claim due to a duty to assist error and inadequate pre-decisional medical opinion. The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome is alleged to have caused or aggravated his post-service ACL tear, leading to scars.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU, and there is no evidence to suggest he is unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and he receives a combined rating of 20 percent for his right knee strain and left knee osteoarthritis. The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of relevant medical records, particularly from private providers. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including meniscal tear, ACL tear, and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found no basis for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia may have prevented him from working during the review period, and his TDIU rating is inherent in any claim for an increased rating. The Board has remanded the issues due to lack of VA examination records and incomplete employment history.

The Veteran's left knee condition is granted as secondary to her service-connected right knee and low back conditions.,Service connection for left knee instability is denied due to lack of evidence of instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to heart condition/leaking valve, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea are denied. The claim for service connection for headaches prior to February 23, 2023, is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided to the Veteran were inadequate, specifically in not addressing his lay statements regarding symptoms experienced during service. As a result, these claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employment and income.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the April 2019 denial warrants readjudication of the claim for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms are being considered in the remand process.

The Board has remanded the claims for appropriate disability ratings due to new evidence received after the November 2020 decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, left knee disability, bilateral kidney disability, and skin disability.,There is no evidence of current disabilities in these conditions.

New evidence has been presented supporting the Veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hip disorders, lumbar spine disorder.,The Board finds that new and relevant evidence has been submitted in support of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims, including those for higher ratings for his bladder condition, bilateral knee instability, and other conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded. Additional evidence will be considered, and new examinations may be required.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee conditions are now considered service-connected as of August 22, 2019. The effective date for these benefits is set to this date.