Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has found errors in obtaining the Veteran's VA treatment records from Hinesville, Georgia and ordered additional development to obtain these records. The claims for PTSD rating, knee disabilities, effective date, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee joint osteoarthritis and right hip strain are granted service connection as they were incurred during active duty.,The Veteran's heart palpitations are not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for skin rash, headaches, bilateral knee disabilities, and plantar fasciitis have been denied. The request to reopen these claims has been granted.,The Veteran's previously denied claim for sleep apnea has been reopened and is now considered granted. The previously denied claim for hypertension has also been reopened and is now considered granted.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disability, and left below knee amputation with left hip avascular necrosis is granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and a TDIU prior to December 10, 2012 due to incomplete VA examinations and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee retropatellar pain syndrome based on limitation of extension, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obesity, which is a component in determining whether his service-connected orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities cause or aggravate his obesity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The issue of service connection for right knee disability (secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, has been granted. The appeal to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome was also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to missing service treatment records.,The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale based on the available evidence, including the Veteran's in-service duties.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 24, 2016.

The Veteran's right knee disability is characterized by pain and limited flexion to 100 degrees. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating, as the condition does not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine, bilateral foot, hearing loss, gastritis, GERD, sleep apnea, headaches, vision impairment, cervicalgia, knee disabilities, hip strains, and ankle strains.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including reopening of service connection for various conditions and entitlement to service connection. The decision also emphasizes the need to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the need for new medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disability and right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection is now established.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for the claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of private treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to April 16, 2019 and 40 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of the period on appeal.,For the period from April 16, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not been manifested by ankylosis or its functional equivalent.