Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder has been reopened, with the new VA medical opinion confirming that the current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was incurred in service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has also been reopened, as there are STR showing complaints and treatment for headaches during service. The Board found these records to be new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder remains denied due to lack of new and material evidence that relates the current arthritis to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth has been reopened, but no new and material evidence was found to support his contention that dental trauma occurred during service.,Service connection for GERD is granted based on objective indications of a chronic disability (gastroesophageal reflux disease) that became manifest in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee pain, and increased rating for a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA opinions addressing causation, aggravation, medication effects, and pathophysiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for her service-connected right knee strain due to conflicting evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, right hip disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's duty dates. Additional development is required to determine if these disabilities are related to active service or a period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives regarding a VA addendum opinion on the relationship between the service-connected left knee disability and the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for right and left knee disabilities as they have been fully granted with the October 2020 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate opinions from a June and December 2023 VA examiner. The Veteran is scheduled for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for groin pain, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and restless leg syndrome due to additional evidence received after the transfer of his case to the Board.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and an effective date prior to June 10, 2015, for service connection for tinnitus.,The Board found new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating for total right knee replacement was maintained at 60 percent since October 5, 2016. An earlier effective date of March 23, 2012, for TDIU benefits was granted. The earlier effective date of May 21, 2016, for DEA benefits was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were denied due to lack of evidence linking the claimed conditions to military service or VA treatment, respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition and cervical spine strain were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied these claims. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, with the majority of issues being granted. Service connection is now established for neck disability and headaches.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The case is remanded for further development regarding COPD, back, neck, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for low back disability and left knee instability and meniscus tear due to new evidence. The Veteran's appeal is not about service connection, but rather a request for higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, and a low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hammertoe.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including meniscal tears and instability, are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent each. The VA has granted separate ratings for left and right knee instability.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee arthritis and residuals of meniscus surgery are denied, while service connection for sleep apnea is also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for right shoulder disability and left knee disability were both denied due to lack of in-service incurrence or relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain updated treatment records and medical opinions regarding her migraines, bilateral knee conditions, left lower lobe atelectasis, and endometriosis.