Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee condition and left knee condition. The claim for service connection of tendonitis is being remanded.,Service connection will be evaluated based on the merits, without considering any presumptive conditions or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a 2020 clothing allowance for bilateral wrist and knee braces is remanded due to incomplete documentation and inadequate notice in the original decision.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's left knee condition was not shown to be related to service due to lack of evidence within one year post-service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to combat exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings have been granted, with effective dates of April 24, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to attend VA examinations and because of exposure to a chemical agent (CLP) during military service. The Veteran is also being examined for hypertension, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and right testicle epididymitis.

The Board has remanded both claims for the RO to provide a VA examination and obtain additional records. The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a causal nexus between service and his current condition, while the right knee chondromalacia claim requires an updated VA examination in compliance with Correia v. McDonald.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claims of increased rating for left knee disability, service connection for left hip disability, and service connection for prostate cancer are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating for residuals of a brown recluse spider bite and service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a brown recluse spider bite due to incomplete development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to a TDIU and remanded the claim for an increased rating of residuals of reconstructive surgery of the left knee. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include left knee instability and residuals of reconstructive surgery, which are currently rated as 10% each.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 14, 2013 was denied as she had maintained gainful employment during this period despite her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and a right knee condition have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right foot pain, and left foot pain disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II were also denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings for various muscle residuals status post rhabdomyolysis due to inadequate range of motion findings in his neck, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and feet. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these necessary examinations.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations despite multiple attempts by the AOJ.

The Veteran's right knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,For the entire rating period prior to November 13, 2023, the Veteran's right knee subluxation warrants a 20 percent disability evaluation.,Since November 13, 2023, the Veteran's right knee subluxation is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's right shoulder glenohumeral joint instability (major) and dislocation (major) are both currently rated at 20 percent.,There is no service connection for any exposure basis or PACT Act.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back disability, right shoulder disability, and PTSD due to lack of recent examinations and treatment records. The matters are also remanded for further efforts to obtain SSA earnings information and a new VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% disability rating for migraines is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for migraines is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine and right knee are remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee is remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right foot is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and failure to consider certain evidence. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inconsistency in the VA examiner's responses and a need for clarifying opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee scar is granted a 10% rating prior to September 25, 2018. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.