Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an increased rating for migraine headaches, and TDIU due to unresolved issues with medical opinions and examination findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis, finding that it did not manifest during active service or within one year of active service and is not causally related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee condition(s), left knee condition(s), and neck instability. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease is related to active service, granted.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disability is proximately due to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis and shin splints status post ORIF left tibia fracture, granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis due to new evidence showing presumptive exposure to toxic materials during service in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's claim is granted.,The claims for service connection for back disability and right knee disability remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms began during service and have persisted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to address the severity of his bilateral pes planus, pulmonary and cutaneous sarcoidosis, degenerative joint disease left knee with meniscal tear, and degenerative joint disease right knee with meniscal tear. The issues on appeal are related to service connection.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the November 2023 remand directives and has therefore ordered a new remand for further development. The Veteran's left knee disability, including diagnosed left knee strain, is being reviewed to determine if it was incurred in service or related to an in-service injury during basic training. Additionally, whether the current left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability will be evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee prior to December 20, 2022, or in excess of 30 percent thereafter based on limitation of extension. For the left knee, the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 20, 2022, or in excess of 40 percent thereafter based on limitation of extension.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 10 percent rating for instability, left knee from May 1, 2018 is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability, left knee remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back condition, cervical spine condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral ankle conditions, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated examinations and opinions regarding the severity of his conditions and their impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability or sleep apnea, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,For the right hip, left hip, right wrist, left wrist, and left shoulder disabilities, the Board has found insufficient evidence to determine their etiology and has therefore remanded these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were denied increased ratings, and the claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathies were denied. The Veteran's PTSD, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy were all rated as 10 percent disabling or higher.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and laxity due to a lack of sufficient evidence, including a retrospective medical opinion on functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, left hand condition, right hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck disability, and right ankle condition. The new evidence received since the last denial is relevant to an in-service event that the Veteran believes caused his disabilities and a nexus between service and the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee flexion, instability, and extension due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened on April 13, 2015, and effective as of that date, he was granted service connection for PTSD, TBI, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of fracture of tooth #10.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claims include neck, left knee, low back, bilateral foot, foot rash, sinus/allergy, and lung disabilities.