Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee conditions due to new evidence not previously considered in a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The AOJ must re-issue an SSOC that specifically identifies and discusses all relevant evidence, including VA examinations and SSA determination.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with abdominal pain and pylori bacterial infection is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his osteoarthritis of the right knee prior to September 7, 2023, he was previously rated at 10 percent. After that date, he received a separate 10 percent rating for recurrent subluxation or instability and a 50 percent rating for arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disorder, a right knee disorder, and a thoracolumbar spine disorder. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his limitations of flexion, instability, and meniscal condition of his right knee were not adjudicated by the RO. The Board is remanding these matters to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding the Veteran's meniscal condition.

Service connection has been granted for bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, knee conditions, foot conditions, hip conditions, and ankle conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral leg disability (claimed as bilateral knee pain).

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's residuals of right total knee replacement, finding that his condition presented with intermediate degrees of residual pain.

The Veteran's IBS has been granted a 10 percent rating from November 21, 2016. The other issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and migraine headache due to insufficient examination opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and re-adjudication due to errors in previous decisions regarding left knee pain and instability prior to September 5, 2014.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's knee disabilities need to be re-evaluated with a more complete examination, including retrospective opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for degenerative disc disorder of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right knee joint, femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the left hip, and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the right hip, all secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his back disability, RLE radiculopathy, right knee disability, left knee disability, or bilateral ankle tendonitis. However, the Veteran's claims for service connection of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction (ED), SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding scheduling and conducting a VA examination for service connection of a left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, residuals of a head injury, residuals of a back injury, residuals of a broken left wrist, and residuals of bilateral knee injuries due to lack of evidence showing these conditions occurred during active service.