Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted service connection, while his left knee joint osteoarthritis remains pending and remanded for further examination.

The Board granted service connection for right knee scars and denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and a left knee condition. The rating assigned was 20 percent.

The Veteran's left and right knee patella tendonitis to include leg pain resulted in painful or limited motion at times due to pain, but with flexion greater than 30 degrees and extension less than 5 degrees. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent on or prior to November 19, 2019, for right knee instability is being remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each for limitation of flexion. The evidence does not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to PTSD and a right knee condition.,VA has determined that new evidence received since previous denials supports the Veteran's claims for anxiety, neck/cervical spine condition, degenerative arthritis, dysthymic disorder, fallen arches, herpes, left knee condition, major depression, migraines, and thoracolumbar spine condition. The right knee condition and PTSD remain under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's rumination disorder, left knee scar, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been granted service connection. The right ring finger scar, acne scars, left eyebrow scar, right wrist scar, and right chest scar are denied as not related to service.,Service connection for eye conditions including pinguecula is also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective August 15, 2014. The VA also awarded eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective the same date.,An earlier effective date of August 15, 2014, was granted for both the TDIU and DEA benefits due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposed reduction in disability rating for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy as it was not an appealable decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's December 16, 2019, Higher-Level Review (HLR) form was timely filed and accepted. As a result, the VA must now proceed with adjudicating his request for higher-level review regarding the reopening of his claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, hearing loss, right-knee condition, and PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a throat condition, left and right shin splints, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, and right foot pes planus. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.,The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's right knee replacement surgery required convalescence from May 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020. The Board granted an extension of a 100% disability rating for this period based on the evidence showing continued need for convalescence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider evidence from June 2016 onwards. The Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service, specifically his injury during active duty for training in September 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the issue of service connection for a right knee condition is not fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder. The remaining issues have been denied as not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for posttraumatic stress disorder and left knee disorder due to the death of the appellant during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist and knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his time in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected disabilities, including secondary service connection claims.

The appeal of the proposed reduction from 30 percent to 0 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis is dismissed. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee bursitis, patella dislocation and degenerative arthritis (previously rated as right knee strain) is denied.