Knee decisions — 2024

The appeal challenging the reduction in ratings for right knee disability (extension) and instability is denied. The reductions were supported by clinical findings during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, hypothyroidism, and right knee disability are granted. The claim for increased rating of coronary artery disease is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, persistent (chronic), moderate, and service connection for left knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye conditions and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as a TERA examination related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeals for various conditions and issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection due to a grant of service connection in a prior decision, and denied her claims for migraine headaches, PTSD, and a right wrist ganglion cyst.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee tendonitis with degenerative arthritis. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Lyme disease and a right knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA will make efforts to obtain private treatment records, schedule an examination with a VA clinician to address the nature and etiology of both conditions, and provide addendum opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and a left knee condition due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reviewed again with new opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and heart disability, were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during her period of active service or post-service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and for an increased rating for hypertension. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the HG80 hinged knee brace is granted. However, his claim for an annual VA clothing allowance due to use of hydrophilic and menthol topical creams is denied.

The Veteran's effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is granted as March 9, 2020. The Board found the Veteran was permanently and totally disabled on that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for shortening of his right leg, and granted non-compensable ratings for limitation of flexion in both hips and knees throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limited flexion.

The Veteran's bilateral knee scars have been rated at a 10 percent disability rating for painful surgical scars, effective from the date of the May 2020 decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of knee disabilities and dry eye syndrome, as well as the TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The AOJ will consider any evidence not previously considered in this decision.