Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the issues of a rating higher than 60 percent for a right knee disability and TDIU prior to February 2, 2019, due to insufficient development. The AOJ is required to obtain a statement of earnings from the SSA, request information about the Veteran's employment history, and provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence after the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disabilities due to incomplete adjudication and inadequate examination findings. Additional development is required, including a new examination by an examiner who did not conduct previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the failure to obtain VA medical examinations as directed.

The Veteran's HSV-2 is granted an initial disability rating of 60 percent, effective as of the date of decision. The non-compensable rating for hypothyroidism remains unchanged. Other service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the cases for further development, including a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's CAD was rated at 30 percent prior to May 10, 2023. Prior to April 9, 2019, he received a separate 20 percent rating for right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage and an additional 10 percent rating for varus osteoarthritis by analogy to genu recurvatum.,The Veteran's CAD was rated at 30 percent prior to May 10, 2023. Prior to April 9, 2019, he received a separate 20 percent rating for right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage and an additional 10 percent rating for varus osteoarthritis by analogy to genu recurvatum.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including intervertebral disc degeneration and sacroiliac joint pain. The Veteran's assertions of knee disabilities are denied as there is no current evidence of such conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding flare-ups of left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disability, low back disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, vertigo (dizziness), and eye disability are not service-connected for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2023 VA examination. The examiner is required to reconcile findings with previous examinations.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including hypertension, skin disorder, sleep apnea, arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the left knee, arthritis of the right hip, and removal of gall bladder, all allegedly due to exposure during Project SHAD. The Board found that there was no clear evidence of specific health effects associated with Project SHAD participation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain and medial collateral ligament stress chondromalacia, but granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board dismissed the issues of compensable ratings for right and left tibia stress fractures due to the Veteran's withdrawal prior to the promulgation of a decision. The case is remanded for readjudication of increased rating claims, TDIU claim, and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, bilateral knees. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's knee disability is related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of flexion and instability. The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence or changes in rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, as well as his insomnia secondary to tinnitus.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran contends that his bilateral knee disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disability manifested by symptoms such as joint stiffness and arthralgias of the hands, elbows, or knees, muscle pains, to include as an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI is dismissed because his symptoms have been granted in full with service connection for various conditions.