Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.,VA will obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's GERD based on exposure to burn pits during service in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue and short-term memory impairment are remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology, with consideration of possible overlap with his service-connected psychiatric disabilities and obstructive sleep apnea.,A VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's skin rash, given his participation in a TERA during service in Southwest Asia.,No specific rating or effective date information was provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, a bilateral eye disability, left ear hearing loss, a head nodule, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities prior to August 10, 2022, were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for limitation of motion of the right knee prior to January 11, 2019 was denied. The Board found that during this period, the Veteran's range of motion did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims of increased evaluations for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her right knee disability and TDIU prior to July 2, 2012 are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder based on a finding that these conditions began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, right knee instability, and osteoarthritis right knee are all granted with specific ratings. The radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee meniscus tear due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence from earlier periods of service. The Appellant's current disabilities are being reviewed based on the available records.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection. The initial rating for Hepatitis B and C remains at 20 percent.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the grant of service connection for a new condition.

The appeal pertaining to weakness in the left and right knees is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for service-connected back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted service connection.,Initial compensable evaluations for the surgical scars of the right and left knees were denied.,Service connection for a left ankle/achilles disability (tendonitis) is granted, but initial compensable evaluations are not warranted.,A remand is required to obtain an adequate medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed left ankle/achilles disability.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum available schedular rating (30 percent) for instability.,The Veteran's left hip disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification of the findings regarding subluxation and instability, which were inconsistent between the November 2019 DBQ and December 2019 VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left knee conditions due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding his claimed knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the DIC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cause of death and service connection for hypertension and arteriosclerosis of the coronary artery. Additional medical opinions are needed, and terminal hospital records must be obtained.

The appeal seeking additional disability compensation benefits based on the Veteran's dependents is dismissed as there was no decision to appeal and it does not establish a case or controversy for the Board to decide.