Knee decisions — 2024

The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is granted. The claims for left knee, hip, leg, and ankle disorders are remanded due to lack of proper VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was insufficient evidence to show he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service treatment records are missing and have not been obtained. The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to determine if the claimed conditions were caused by military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, deviated septum, diverticulosis, and respiratory/breathing disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to delays in scheduling VA examinations and failure to report to scheduled appointments. The appeals are related, so TDIU is also being deferred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left elbow disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all being remanded due to the need for additional development.,No current diagnoses were found for any of the claimed conditions. The Veteran's reported symptoms during service did not result in treatment or diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and his right knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran needs further medical evaluation to determine if his current right knee condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus tear, as the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since her military service.

The appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than migraine headaches is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left shoulder disability and cold injuries to bilateral lower extremities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is unable to perform many daily activities without assistance due to his orthopedic and neurological impairments.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for service connection of right shoulder, back, right hip, right wrist, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's pain disorders are being evaluated in light of recent legal developments regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability prior to June 8, 2020 was rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.,From August 1, 2021 through June 13, 2023, the Veteran received a 60 percent rating for his left knee total replacement residuals.

The Board has dismissed the claims for a bilateral vision disability, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea as they were withdrawn by the Claimant with assistance from his attorney.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his left knee strain and right knee osteoarthritis and strain have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The appeal for TDIU is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his knee condition during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis, and left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, and thus grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to February 1, 2012.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded for further examination to determine if his right and left knee disabilities are service-connected. The issues of increased rating for asthma and service connection for knee disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding a left knee disability, and the Board dismissed it.