Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings related to his cervical strain, left knee strain, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral pes planus second degree.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are directly related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are presumed to have been incurred in active service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right ankle disability and service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Board found no evidence of aggravation by service for his preexisting knee and shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied. The claim for an increased disability rating higher than 10 percent for right total knee arthroscopy prior to December 1, 2020 is also denied. However, a separate disability rating of 10 percent for right knee instability prior to December 1, 2020 is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to deficiencies in the previous decisions, including failure to consider the effect of the Veteran's pain on his earning capacity and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, including a TDIU effective June 8, 2009. The right knee instability is rated at 20 percent, the left knee meniscus tear at 20 percent, and both knees receive separate ratings for limited flexion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, left knee, and right knee conditions, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service due to parachute jumps during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the benefit was already granted in full.,Service connection for high blood pressure is denied because there is no probative evidence linking it to active service, a period of inactive duty training (IDT), or an injury during a period of active duty for training (ADT).,The Veteran's claim for right eye vision loss due to welding exposure during his military service remains pending and must be remanded.,Service connection for the right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service, a period of inactive duty training (IDT), or an injury during a period of active duty for training (ADT).,The Veteran's claim for left knee disability remains pending and must be remanded.,Service connection for the lower lumbar back injury with multiple surgeries is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service, a period of inactive duty training (IDT), or an injury during a period of active duty for training (ADT).

The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of a bilateral foot, ankle, lower extremity radiculopathy, back, shoulder, or left knee condition as being related to service.,There is no current disability found for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to sustain gainful employment effective June 1, 2009. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met and grants the claim.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right knee strain and a right knee surgical scar have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence regarding meniscal conditions and instability. The VA is requested to obtain an addendum opinion from a board-certified orthopedic surgeon that addresses these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's post traumatic vascular headaches have been restored to a 10 percent rating from December 21, 2018.,The claims for reopening the service connection for psoriasis and skin condition (secondary to sexual trauma or exposure to depleted uranium) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA medical examination to determine if his bilateral knee disorder is related to service. The current evidence does not support a finding that the condition was incurred in or caused by active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, and/or sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim is not currently addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder, DDD of the lumbar spine, hypertension, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, residuals of right hand carpal tunnel release, left knee chondromalacia patella and meniscal tear with shin splints, and right knee chondromalacia patella with shin splints, have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU from October 25, 2009. The cases of more than a 10 percent rating for service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis with painful motion and more than a 20 percent rating for service-connected right knee meniscectomy residuals are remanded.