Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected. The right hip and right knee conditions are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is dismissed as the benefit has already been granted. The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his claims for bilateral knee disabilities and back disability are remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hip and ankle conditions due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran must provide a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed neck and bilateral knee disabilities, as these issues were not addressed in prior examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of degenerative joint disease of the left knee, degenerative joint disease of the right knee with painful flexion, degenerative joint disease of the right knee with instability, and pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 22, 2017 for both the TDIU and DEA benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is a result of his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee sprain are granted. The effective date of the award is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including strain and chronic pain status post ACL reconstruction, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the initial decision and a need for further examination and review of the Veteran's service records.

The Board has received notification that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeals for service connection of right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities. As a result, these appeals are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to a failure of VA to obtain an adequate VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his knee disabilities, as well as GERD. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left shoulder conditions due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is presumed to have entered service in sound condition, but VA medical opinions are needed to address whether his current disabilities were caused or aggravated by periods of active duty, ADT, or IDT.

The Veteran's right knee disability was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and the temporary total rating for surgery due to her ankle/foot issue is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete consideration of obesity as an intermediate step in the causal chain for service connection. The Veteran's left knee disability is associated with her obesity, which may be caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae as moot due to a prior grant of service connection under the 'legacy' system. The claims for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service records show a high probability of noise exposure in an infantry battalion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and heart block are rated at the maximum available under VA guidelines, with no further increase possible.,The Veteran's left knee disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional impairment.