Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on whether he is entitled to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his entitlement to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that his current right knee condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's left knee instability is granted as secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to have his complete service medical and personnel records associated with his file, including those from his deployment in Cuba. A new VA mental disorders and spine examinations are needed to address the issues of PTSD, anxiety disorder, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, and ankle disability.

The Veteran's left knee instability and right knee instability were granted service connection with effective dates of August 5, 2016 and September 5, 2017 respectively. The Veteran was also granted a separate rating for his right knee meniscal tear with frequent episodes of locking.,A compensable rating (20%) was granted for the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear condition.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10% each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10% each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD with MDD, but granted a TDIU for the period from September 5, 2019, to October 18, 2021.

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,There is no current diagnosis of dermatitis/skin condition, and the claim for this issue is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's hip conditions are also found to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of PTSD was denied as February 8, 2020 is the earliest date on which the increase in disability became factually ascertainable.,An effective date of January 19, 2021 but no earlier was granted for service connection of right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim was remanded as there was not actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.,The rating reduction from 50% to 30% for migraines was found improper, and a 50% rating is restored.,Service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings for radiculopathy, wrist disabilities, and hip osteoarthritis have been dismissed as freestanding claims. The Board found that these claims lack legal merit.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee and right knee osteoarthritis as they are not adequately addressed by the VA examinations provided.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral hip, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded to consider a right ankle disability.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Entitlement to service connection for constipation is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an abdominal condition (other than constipation) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an esophageal disability, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dyspepsia, is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding tinnitus, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, left knee, mad cow disease, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral restless leg syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spondylosis and strain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to a lack of corroborating service treatment records in the Veteran's case.

The Veteran's gynecomastia, right and left knee patellar tendonitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis and hiatal hernia are granted. The Veteran's right and left elbow disability, right and left hip disability, and right hammer toe are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the right knee condition. The issues of service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety, insomnia, and TBI are remanded due to failure to report for VA examinations.