Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right knee disability ratings were reduced, but the reductions are not proper. The Veteran is granted an increased rating for pes planus with plantar fasciitis and his service connection claims for various disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee replacement, right knee replacement, and lumbar stenosis are granted. The claims for evaluation of long thoracic nerve damage in the left shoulder and degenerative joint disease in the left acromioclavicular (AC) joint are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee osteoarthritis and major depressive disorder, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 6, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU from that date until August 30, 2021.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as proximately due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, while other issues are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to pre-decisional errors. The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities need to be reassessed.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left and right knee conditions have been denied. He is granted separate ratings for his right knee meniscal tear, right knee instability, and left knee instability.

The Veteran's appeals to increase his ratings for right knee limitations were dismissed as untimely.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, and lower back conditions due to a deferred decision in the March 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his right knee conditions were dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for vertigo, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining treatment records from the Naval Training Center Point Loma.

The Veteran's eczema (folliculitis/infection) and sleep apnea syndromes (sleep disorder) are related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.,For the neck condition and knee conditions, the case is remanded as further medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder and lumbar spine disorder due to a lack of competent or credible evidence of current disabilities. The claim for right knee disorder is denied as there is no evidence of any current right knee pain, and the claim for lumbar spine disorder is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on remand have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.,An effective date prior to March 28, 2018, for PTSD and an increased rating for tonsillectomy are also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The Veteran’s left knee disability has been granted service connection as secondary to his right knee disability.,A remand is needed to correct duty to assist errors.

Your appeal of the denial for service connection for left knee pain (claimed as degenerative arthritis) has been dismissed due to your representative's withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the recoupment of disability compensation due to receipt of training pay is being remanded for further investigation and correction.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and disc displacement, left knee strain with medial meniscal tear status post meniscectomy, and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) were restored to their previous levels.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the July 2020 decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea disability, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as they are freestanding claims that must be denied as a matter of law.,For the residuals of nasal fracture, the claim is denied as there is no evidence showing at least 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.