Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The appeals for a temporary total disability rating and a higher disability rating for left total knee replacement have been dismissed because the AOJ's decision was not issued prior to the filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's left knee instability has resulted in moderate instability, warranting a 20 percent rating.,A separate 20 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's left meniscus tear due to frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically regarding functional loss and flare-ups of his right knee condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty assist errors. The issues of antecedent granulomatous disease, lumbar and thoracic spondylosis and strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, tremors, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for grants of TDIU and DEA, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that the increase in disability occurred within one year prior to his September 22, 2021 claim.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and bilateral cataracts.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's post-left TKR has been granted a rating of 40 percent effective April 18, 2019.,For the period from April 18, 2019 to January 30, 2020, the Veteran is also granted a separate rating of 20 percent for left knee instability.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored to 70 percent effective June 1, 2020. The left knee and ankle degenerative joint diseases are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to a failure to conduct an updated VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a left knee disability and a back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. The appellant's service records indicate possible active duty status on April 17, 1991, but this needs verification. VA examinations are also needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or IVDS with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months. The Veteran's service connection claims for sciatica and right knee disability were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for IBS are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical testing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues are related to thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that his current diagnoses are related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for a blood clot in the left calf due to lack of diagnosis during or near the appeal period. The claim for ED was also denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and left and right ankle sprain are all granted. The effective dates for these ratings have not been specified.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a rating of 30 percent, allergic rhinitis remains at 0 percent, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is granted a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a clothing allowance due to the use of a left knee brace in 2020 was granted by VHA, and thus the appeal is dismissed.