Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and examination of his knee disabilities, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, asbestosis, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee limitation of flexion and entitlement to TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee instability prior to January 22, 2021 due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the severity and progression of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's deviated septum, low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The claims are all considered well grounded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5257 or 5258.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including right knee disability, left knee injury, arthritis, chest scar, blurred vision, high blood pressure, and shoulder injuries. The decision does not address dental scars or provide a rating assigned.

The Veteran's left knee strain with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating. The Veteran's left knee instability has been granted an increased rating to 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right and left knee disabilities, so these issues are dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right knee strain, and bilateral foot pain as he elected to pursue a supplemental claim. The appeal of his lumbosacral strain disability rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error. The issues of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol, bilateral knee disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, and an eye disorder are all being remanded.

The Board has determined that new evidence was received to warrant readjudicating the Veteran's claims for service connection. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his left and right knee disabilities as the appeal was not filed within one year after receipt of a VA decision, and it is not a valid opt-in to the modernized appeal system.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a rating in excess of 10 percent for her left knee disability, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to support an increased rating.

The Veteran's left knee DJD with shin splints was not found to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent prior to July 28, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, low back pain, left shoulder pain, and left knee pain due to insufficient evidence. The claim for hidradenitis remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, left hip disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and secondary service connection for left knee disability as related to right knee disability due to insufficient evidence of a medical nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the 50 percent evaluation of bilateral plantar fasciitis with toe deformities is denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disorder and lower back disorder due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee conditions. The AOJ will now consider these claims on their merits.