Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the cases of left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy for further development due to herbicide exposure and as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient reasoning in a previous decision regarding the adequacy of an opinion provided by a VA clinician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee lost flexion and extension as he failed to report for a VA examination needed to rate his conditions. The existing evidence does not show that his right knee disorders meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and related issues are being remanded due to the need to obtain non-VA medical records from West University Wellness and Westchase Health and Rehabilitation Center, which have not been associated with the claims file. The AOJ is instructed to readjudicate the claims after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's left knee DJD and instability were found to be no worse than limitation of motion, without additional functional loss due to pain or other symptoms. The current ratings for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination, and further development is required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle condition, left ankle condition, lumbar strain, and left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected right and left foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, with some issues being remanded.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted with effective dates of October 1, 2010, and February 9, 2018 respectively. The effective date for the award of TDIU is based on his inability to work due to service-connected disabilities since at least October 1, 2010. The effective date for DEA benefits was determined based on the Veteran's permanent total service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left ankle disabilities, all secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board found that there is not competent, credible evidence supporting these theories.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability are remanded due to inadequate examination, and the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection.

The Board has vacated its August 2024 decision and dismissed the appeals on ten issues due to procedural errors, including incorrect substitution of the appellant as a valid claimant.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as direct service connection.,Obstructive sleep apnea is denied as secondary to PTSD with anxiety and depression.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the currently assigned ratings for these conditions during the periods specified.

Your claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as your appeal was not filed within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria is being remanded due to the inextricability with other issues.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee disability and bilateral knee scars are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow strain, right knee strain, and right ankle sprain as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to a duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding constrictive bronchitis due to lack of ripeness. The claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and right knee disability are denied as there is no causal relationship between these conditions and active service.