Knee decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability rating for hypertension and service connection for various conditions due to his death, as the AOJ has not made a formal substitution determination in the matter.

The Veteran's appeals for various hip and knee conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has restored the appellant's 20 percent rating for derangement of meniscus, left knee with instability, effective October 15, 2020, finding that the reduction was improper and that there is no clear basis to conclude that the improvement in joint stability represented an actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain status post right knee ACL repair with residual pain and scar is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is remanded for further consideration on its merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee tendonitis and migraines due to incomplete military personnel records, inadequate VA medical opinion, and duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Appellant must be provided with new VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right below the knee amputation and any other right knee disorder, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed right knee disorder and left knee disorder, as there was a duty-to-assist error in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left knee condition, right knee condition, and right shoulder condition due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have any right and left hand, wrist, shoulder, knee, hip, neck, or back disorders during service. The post-service medical records do not show a continuity of symptoms for these conditions until at least 21 years after service ended. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The current rating decision does not address this issue directly.

The Veteran's right knee strain appeal is dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal.,Service connection for pulmonary vascular disease (including pulmonary thromboembolism) is granted, with evidence suggesting it began during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of examination addressing flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent from February 21, 2019 to June 29, 2021.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, a back condition, and various arm, elbow, hand, knee, and shoulder conditions, finding that there was no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service onset related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition, including pain, is related to his service-connected left knee condition. The case will be reviewed with a new opinion that considers the relationship between any right knee condition and the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his right knee disability was dismissed because the VA Form 10182, which is required to file a substantive appeal, was not timely filed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, require frequent adjustments of prosthetic appliances, feed himself, attend to wants of nature, or protect himself from daily hazards.

The Veteran's back, left knee, heart, skin cancer, headaches, and stomach/abdominal disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion due to potential service connection based on toxic exposure.

The Veteran's claims for left knee chondromalacia, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and drug addiction), low back disorder, and arthritis of the entire body are being remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.