Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, disability ratings, and psychiatric issues. The appeals will be remanded to allow for further review of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial disability rating for left knee disability and TDIU are remanded due to deficiencies in the examination reports and need for further clarification of the appeal period.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of a heart disability, left knee disability, COPD, and skin cancer. The heart condition claim was already granted by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions, including a right shoulder condition, back condition, bilateral knee condition, skin cancer, neck disorder, prostate disorder, otitis externa, and left ear hearing loss. The issues have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased disability ratings for various knee, respiratory, and musculoskeletal conditions. Service connection was granted for hypermobility syndrome but denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as other conditions, have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis but denied service connection for vascular insufficiency with a right below the knee amputation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left ankle strain, left knee strain, right ankle strain, and right knee strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee arthritis is being remanded due to the failure to attend a VA examination. The Board finds that the reason stated for missing the examination constitutes good cause and thus, the Veteran should be rescheduled for an examination.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical intervertebral disc syndrome with strain.,The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical intervertebral disc syndrome with strain.,The Veteran's right knee disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether a pre-service right knee disorder increased in severity during service, if it was aggravated by service, or if a separate right knee disorder had its onset in service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee tendonitis was denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable from November 15, 2018 to January 10, 2020. From January 10, 2020 onwards, he is in receipt of a 100% rating for PTSD with opioid use disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for C. diff, left knee condition, left elbow condition, and left shoulder condition due to the lack of a current disability. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded as there is evidence of currently diagnosed disabilities, an in-service event, and an indication that the current disabilities may be associated with the in-service event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left and right wrists, left and right elbows, left and right knees, left and right shoulders, or neck disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for service connection for left knee chondromalacia, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee meniscal tear, have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each. The effective date for these awards is October 3, 2022.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete documentation and the need for VCAA notice. The effective date of the TDIU will be from June 9, 2014.