Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety, was granted service connection. Left ear hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were also granted. However, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee flexion limitation, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and hypertension are denied. The rating for diabetes mellitus is not met.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right wrist disability is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating. The left knee replacement claim and TDIU claim are remanded due to lack of updated medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip, left hip with sclerotic abnormality of the left femoral neck, and both knees. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to an accident involving a bulldozer during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee chondromalacia, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment beginning November 16, 2013. A TDIU on extraschedular basis was granted for the period from November 16, 2013, to March 4, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as arthritis of the left knee status post-ACL repair with instability and limited flexion prior to July 23, 2020, is rated at 10 percent for each condition.,For the period after September 1, 2021, when the Veteran had a total left knee replacement, he was assigned a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's ascending aortic aneurysm is rated at 100% effective February 16, 2016. His hypertension is rated at 20%. The remaining conditions are all rated at the maximum allowed under their respective diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including extension and flexion, was restored to a 40% rating. A separate 10% rating for left knee flexion is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis and secondary service connection for a right knee disability, finding that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and left knee disorder to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions will be evaluated, along with his in-service duties as an Aircraft Fuel Systems Technician.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 10 percent, and his limitation of extension prior to April 25, 2023, is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's meniscal injury is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, right knee, naval hernia, bladder incontinence, anxiety disorder, and back disability, are not service-connected as they do not have a direct causal relationship to her active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and review of non-VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including heart disability, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, kidney disease, left knee disability, liver disease, neck disability, radiculopathy, right and left lower extremities, skin disability with trophic changes, and tinnitus. The claims are remanded due to the need for updated medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including failing to obtain all of the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) from Subic Bay Naval Hospital in the Philippines. The Veteran is also asked to identify any outstanding private treatment records and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, and a new examination is required.

The Board has determined that further remand is necessary to obtain adequate nexus opinions for the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities. The VA examiner failed to provide sufficient rationale in their previous opinions.