Knee decisions — 2024

Your increased rating claim for left knee disability and service connection claim for lumbar spine disability have been fully granted, so there is no case or controversy remaining.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it began in service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease, right knee instability, acne, and scars have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and right hallux valgus were denied as new and relevant evidence did not tend to prove or disprove the elements of service connection.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches secondary to PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD are granted.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various disorders, including left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board has determined that these claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, CTS, ankle disorders, elbow disorders, hip disorders, knee disorders, and neck disorders. These claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hip, left hip, right foot plantar fasciitis, and low back conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and right knee disorder were also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, left hip disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran must undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that it is related to service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for neck, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Further examination is needed to determine the nature of his current conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the left hip with bursitis with limitation of flexion, right and left knee disabilities, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied, and the Board found that there is no current disability of diabetes. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted as his PTSD and gout disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim based on a single service-connected disability is denied as the evidence does not show that either of his knee disabilities alone renders him unable to work.,The Veteran's SMC claims for housebound status are also denied due to lack of permanent confinement or institutionalization.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's left knee disabilities, including those for a higher rating and effective dates.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted from August 25, 2008. The effective date for TDIU is established based on the earliest claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, while the effective date for DEA benefits is set to match the TDIU grant.

The Board has granted the petition to readjudicate the claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and a back disability, but has remanded both claims due to new evidence presented by the Veteran during his hearing. The AOJ will need to provide additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and requires a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran seeks an effective date earlier than July 30, 2015 for the award of service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities based on limited flexion. The AOJ has assigned the earliest possible effective date for the grant of benefits, the date of receipt of the claim.,For the entire appeal period beginning July 30, 2015, the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was rated at a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5260 based on limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for an unspecified trauma or stress-related disorder was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating after August 1, 2020 for right knee arthoplasty with postoperative synovectomy with reflex sympathetic dystrophy was dismissed due to premature appeal and the maximum benefit having been awarded.