Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination reports and a duty-to-assist error. The appellant's service-connected right knee disability will need further evaluation to determine its current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, diagnosed as right knee strain, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are at least as likely related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues, including bilateral sinus condition, right hip disability, left hip disability, bilateral eye condition, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability, and compensable rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for right upper extremity radial neck fracture as due to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to various knee and hip conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in prior VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee pain is related to his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and remands the case for further development.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left elbow, wrist, knee disabilities and IBS are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for presumptive service connection for undiagnosed illness or MUCMI related to Gulf War exposure is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.,PTSD rating claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding PTSD severity prior to November 2020.,The TDIU claim is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.,Effective February 7, 2021, the VA updated the criteria for evaluating ankle degenerative arthritis to include specific ranges of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a lack of consideration of certain evidence in the original decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral shin disorder, and left knee disorder were improperly docketed in the AMA. As it pertains to these issues, the appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's tricompartmental degenerative changes, moderate in medical joint left knee was granted service connection as it is related to a pre-existing injury during service and age-related changes over time.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right long finger disability. The claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence meeting the regulatory requirements for establishing a current disability. The claims for service connection for depression and left knee condition are remanded as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to make a reasoned determination.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disorders are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. The right knee disorder is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to a right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, lower back, and right hip conditions due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Veteran's cervical strain is related to his active service and the claim for this condition has been granted. The claims for hypertension, TBI, back disability, migraine headaches, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to errors in the duty to assist.