Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral eye disability and PTSD, but has remanded the issue of left knee disability due to potential secondary or aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee conditions have been rated at the lowest possible level (10 percent) due to slight instability and limited flexion, with no evidence of severe or disabling symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder and knee conditions, do not render him unemployable prior to January 1, 2022. After that date, his combined disability rating is at least 60 percent, meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and back disability. The evidence did not show these conditions began during or within one year after service.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to October 1, 2013, and granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based upon the need for aid and attendance (A&A).

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain a retrospective medical opinion addressing left knee flexion, extension, instability, and genu recurvatum prior to June 15, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition, a left knee condition, and a low back condition secondary to the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions. The evidence supports these determinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer and left knee pain, but denied service connection for GERD, acne, right knee pain, erectile dysfunction, and sinus disability. The TDIU claim was dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the final March 1980 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings related to his right knee disabilities is being remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of examination reports and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right knee disabilities do not warrant a compensable rating for limitation of extension, or any higher ratings for limitation of flexion, subluxation/instability, or meniscal impairment.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for migraine headaches due to a finding of service connection in September 2023. The issues of new and material evidence for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and TBI residuals, cervical spine disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, recurrent sleep disability, heart disability, hypertension, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, hand, wrist, and shoulder disabilities due to a lack of medical nexus between these conditions and his active duty.,An earlier effective date prior to October 30, 2018, for grant of service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 20% evaluation prior to November 10, 2021. From May 1, 2022, he is in receipt of the maximum available rating for ongoing chronic residuals following total knee replacement.,For his left knee disability, the Veteran's claim must be remanded as it requires an up-to-date VA examination to determine the current extent and severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has found that further development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The appeal is remanded for additional VA treatment records and examination reports, clarification of whether the Veteran's nonservice-connected conditions impact his employment, and submission of a legible VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his right knee, left knee, low back, right wrist, finger, and TMJ disorders. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disorder was granted. Service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while the claims for asthma, seizure disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder/right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from November 16, 2017, to January 21, 2019. The decision is based on her bilateral hip disabilities that prevented her from engaging in prolonged walking and changing from sitting to standing.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and a temporary total evaluation due to inadequate examinations in previous remands. The Veteran's knee disabilities are being examined again to assess their severity, including flare-ups, and his left hip disability is being evaluated with consideration of its relationship to his knee disabilities.