Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 19, 2018. The case is being remanded for further examination of his right and left knee conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disorders due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as additional medical opinions are required to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee arthritis and heart condition (claimed as irregular heartbeat) due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claim is denied.

Service connection for squamous cell cancer on face, head, and hands has been granted as secondary to service-connected ulcerative colitis.,Service connection for residuals of broken left leg/knee injury (leg disorder) has not been established.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes and rheumatoid arthritis, left hip, have been granted a rating of 60 percent each.

The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability are all granted. The effective dates for these grants are the date of claim (April 9, 2014 for PTSD, May 20, 2015 for other disabilities).

The Board has granted an effective date of August 7, 2009 for the award of a ten percent disability rating for right hip degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension. The reduction of the 10 percent rating for service-connected right hip disability was improper and the original rating is restored. The Veteran's left knee disorder remains at a 10 percent rating, effective April 20, 2012. No increased rating is granted for the right hip or left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for left hip and right hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issue of service connection for memory problems with residuals was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee arthritis with meniscal tear prior to January 9, 2019 and after March 1, 2019 is remanded. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left knee replacement scar is also remanded. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee arthritis (status post replacement) is also remanded.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which the RO denied as not shown to be related to service. The issue is being remanded due to new and material evidence having been received.,The Veteran's claim for pulmonary sarcoidosis is being remanded due to possible exposure to asbestos and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right elbow disability, which the RO denied as not related to service. The issue is being remanded due to possible exposure to hazardous chemicals in service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right wrist disability, which the RO denied as not related to service. The issue is being remanded due to possible exposure to hazardous chemicals in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is currently service-connected, but there are uncertainties about when and where the injury occurred. The case is being remanded to gather more information on these points.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 21, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran was capable of at least sedentary work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to inadequate nexus opinions. The Veteran contends her knees were injured during active duty, but VA examiners found insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues have been remanded to allow for consideration of new and pertinent evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure VA fulfills its duty to assist the Veteran in obtaining relevant private treatment records. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee strain, and left knee strain are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of initial compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and left abdomen scar, as well as service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral shoulder, hematuria, and a neck disorder. New examinations are required to determine the current severity of these conditions and their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability, flexion limitation, and extension limitation, has been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as the July 2020 rating decision granted it.,The claims for a headache disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and muscle spasms are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his right knee disability, SMC based on need for aid and attendance, and SMC at the housebound rate. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records and provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.