Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is found to have been present since service. The left knee condition claim was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's clothing allowance claim for 2020 is remanded due to missing relevant documents from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) including prior clothing allowance decisions, notice of disagreements, substantive appeals, and medical assessments conducted by VHA evaluators. The AOJ needs to reconstruct the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to a failure to obtain necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's right hip strain, limitation of flexion, is rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's right hip strain, limitation abduction, adduction, and rotation, is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for the 2020 calendar year due to the use of a hinged right knee brace, which causes damage to his clothing.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of his pending claims, including those for increased disability ratings for various thigh and knee disabilities. The Board has dismissed these claims as a result.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a TMJ disorder. The claims for service connection for left knee condition and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral pes planus due to issues with the addendum opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiner is requested to address the Veteran's statements regarding her in-service duties and motor vehicle accidents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an effective date earlier than August 11, 2020 for his increased right knee disability rating and denied a higher rating for his right knee disability. The claim for an effective date was withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 30, 2009, for a 40 percent rating for his right knee disability due to limitation of motion following meniscectomy with arthritis.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2020 VA examination in documenting the full symptomology of the Veteran's condition during the applicable period.

The Veteran's claim for right knee total replacement was dismissed as moot because the benefits sought have already been granted.,The Veteran's initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee degenerative joint diseases due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the September 2020 rating decision. The VA is required to obtain a new examination to address whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to service, including wear and tear.

The Veteran's low back disability is not rated higher than 40 percent due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,Left knee limitations are not rated higher than 20 percent due to lack of limitation of flexion or extension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, knee replacement, tinnitus, and hypertension, have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities and diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical and mental incapacity.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and right elbow disability is denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded as there was a duty to assist error regarding the examination.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions relied upon in the June 2022 rating decision are inadequate and remands the case for further development.