Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability warrants a separate rating for instability and remanded for further development. The initial rating claim is also remanded, as are the issues regarding additional SMC.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The Board will address his increased rating claims from October 2015 onwards.

The Veteran's right thumb disability was denied a compensable evaluation prior to March 19, 2019, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. A 20 percent evaluation is granted from June 30, 2023.,Service connection for a right knee injury was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need for further examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his service-connected left knee disability.

The appeal has been withdrawn for issues related to increased ratings for hip and knee disabilities, as well as service connection for hearing loss. The low back disability claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee condition before April 17, 2019, and residuals of a right total knee replacement are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases and failure to ensure VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who conducted the recent examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of secondary service connection due to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unresolved issues regarding his right hand, wrist, and knee disabilities. The Board will further develop the evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's essential tremors are rated as noncompensable, but the Board has found that they warrant a 30 percent rating. The knee issues have been remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee disorders are related to her military service. The appeal is remanded for a review of additional VA evidence regarding an increased disability rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has restored the Veteran's left and right knee ratings to 20 percent effective November 16, 2022. The issues of increased rating for knees prior to August 18, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 24, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is an additional disability superimposed upon his congenital deformity and whether his left knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service, including in-service reports of pain and stiffness behind the left knee.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hips and knees are granted.,Service connection is also granted for left hip degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are etiologically related to active service, granting their claims for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for right knee strain with shin splints, left knee strain with shin splints, and tension headaches. The appeal of a higher initial rating for left hip strain is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee flexion and instability have been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective dates for various disabilities, including left knee meniscus tear, lower extremity radiculopathy, shoulder strain, rotator cuff tendonitis, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The increased rating claim was also denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.