Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee strain, and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical evidence addressing these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of right shoulder, back, and bilateral knee disabilities under the modernized review system. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition, left hip condition, and thoracolumbar spine condition are not related to his active service.,There is insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, as secondary to a service-connected left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinion regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has restored the previously granted ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation, left knee degenerative arthritis with limited extension, right knee degenerative arthritis with limited extension, and right knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left knee condition, back condition, and migraines have been dismissed due to procedural errors. The appeal for migraines is being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed during the appeal period, and there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's left lower extremity nerve disorder and right knee disorder were not diagnosed during the appeal period, and there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left knee injury was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was filed after one year from the July 2010 rating decision and on an improper form.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's claims are based on his in-service noise exposure and work-related activities, but the Board did not find a causal relationship between these factors and his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a failure by the AOJ to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing before the AOJ issued its initial decision. The AOJ is instructed to correct this error by providing the Veteran with notice of her right to a hearing.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities and shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection claims for right ankle, foot, and knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his ability to maintain significant independence in daily activities.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied.,Service connection for a left knee condition is also denied.

The Veteran's right knee residual scars, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including right knee strain, instability, chondromalacia, and meniscal damage. The Board found that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee condition, which he claims is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee scar disability and limitation of flexion were granted service connection with effective dates of September 10, 2020.,Restoration of the 10% evaluations for these conditions was denied as of April 19, 2022, for the right knee scar disability, and March 21, 2022, for the limitation of flexion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of medical opinions addressing the likely nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sciatic nerve conditions and gout-related disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 80% due to these service-connected conditions.