Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left shin splints, right shin splints, hiatal hernia, and headaches have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left knee disability has been remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and LLE radiculopathy due to injuries sustained from a tornado during active duty. The decision is based on credible evidence of an in-service injury and current disabilities that are at least as likely as not related to the 1957 tornado.

The Board has denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee scar, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of instability or pain.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee strain. The effective date for service connection remains January 24, 2014.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding several issues related to his knee conditions, including painful scars and subluxation/instability. The Board has dismissed these claims.

The Board denied service connection for gout in the feet, hips, and knees as there was no evidence of a nexus to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including scarring (itchy) of the right shoulder, right buttocks, and knee; right shoulder injury; left shoulder injury; left knee condition; left ankle condition; TBI; and vision impairment. These conditions are related to his in-service motorcycle accident in April 2007.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the service-connected left knee tendonitis/tendinosis with arthritis, effective May 1, 2021. The Veteran's condition did not show actual improvement under ordinary conditions of life as determined by VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, including a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service injury during basic training.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative osteoarthritis is found to have started during service and has continued since then, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in obtaining complete service medical records, including from the United States Military Academy and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Additional VA opinions are needed based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's low back condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is granted service connection secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.,The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted service connection due to in-service hazardous noise exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the ratings for surgical scars of the right knee and effusion of the right knee. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has determined that the VA did not provide a necessary examination for the Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar strain, and right knee disorders. The claims are being remanded to schedule these examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip pain, right knee disability, chronic head pain, left hand pain, and left thoracic rib pain due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder and right knee disabilities were granted with an effective date of September 4, 2020. The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to psychiatric disability) and lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran has not provided a clear indication that he believes his lumbar spine disability is related to service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as secondary to service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and he is awarded a TDIU due to his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of his left knee, right knee, and lumbar spondylosis disabilities has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board will seek additional private treatment records and schedule a VA examination to address the etiology of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's back and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they were aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied.,Effective dates prior to April 16, 2009, are not warranted for the awards of service connection or increased ratings.