Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressors and grants this claim. Other claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating. The hip, headache, and GERD issues are REMANDED for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, hypertension, and total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete VA examinations and unclear opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee disabilities has been dismissed due to the withdrawal by her authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities, neck disability, and back disability due to inadequate medical opinions based on the absence of medical evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability, are service-connected. The right knee disability is secondary to the service-connected right knee fracture, while the left knee disability and low back disability are secondary to the right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to address the severity of his service-connected disabilities, as well as any new or existing conditions related to in-service exposure. The issues of service connection are also pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence associated with the case file after the October 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability prior to August 8, 2022.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis was rated at 10 percent prior to October 30, 2014. From December 1, 2015, the Veteran received a 60 percent rating for his post-total knee arthroplasty.,Left knee instability was granted a 10 percent rating prior to October 30, 2014. The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic attacks is rated at 70 percent since February 25, 2011.,The Veteran received a TDIU rating from February 25, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee meniscal tear, and left knee condition due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran will have an opportunity to provide additional evidence or opt into the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather the severity of his existing conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right foot disability, low back disability, and right knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for PTSD, schizophrenia, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), tremors in the upper extremities, right hand and fifth digit arthritis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and fainting spells with shortness of breath. The effective date for service connection remains February 2, 2018.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis of the condition and no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's left foot disability is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no current medical evidence supporting its etiology.,The Veteran's right foot disability is denied for similar reasons as his left foot disability.,The Veteran's liver disability (transaminitis) is denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's right knee strain is denied as the current medical evidence does not support an initial compensable rating, and the issue was remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for another VA examination to address the severity and manifestations of his service-connected right knee conditions, including instability, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension. The Veteran is seeking increased disability evaluations for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for updated examinations and a clarifying etiological opinion regarding ankle symptoms.