Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right foot and right knee disabilities, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability. The VA examiner is required to provide opinions regarding whether these conditions are directly related to or caused by his active service, as well as whether they are aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a misunderstanding of the Veteran's military service history and the presence of certain back conditions. The VA examiner needs to provide new opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are denied, as there is no evidence of in-service onset or a link between these conditions and active service. The right knee condition claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and vision disability have been dismissed. Her back disability has been granted service connection. The remaining issues of left knee tendonitis with knee instability, right knee tendonitis with knee instability, skin condition, and acid reflux are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, to include degenerative arthritis. The claim is granted with a non-compensable rating.

Service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,An effective date earlier than March 2, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,There is no basis for an effective date prior to April 19, 2011 for the award of service connection for a right ankle disability.,As new and material evidence has been received, the service connection claim for a right knee condition is reopened. The issue will be remanded for further review.,A rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,An effective date higher than 10 percent for the right ankle disability is also remanded.,The claim for TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners and missing SSA records. The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are being evaluated again.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist. The Veteran's appeal of the service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability is also being remanded due to the need for a new opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left knee joint osteoarthritis, left knee instability, and TDIU due to inadequate examination records and failure to address certain issues.

The Board has determined that the VA examiners' opinions are inadequate and remands the case for further clarification of the Veteran's knee disorders, including obtaining records from his surgeries in 1995 and 2015.

The Veteran's request for restoration of the ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and PTSD is granted. The Veteran also receives special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder/arm disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 31, 2016, for the awards of service connection for tinnitus and scar, status post right knee arthroscopic surgery.,Service connection was denied for respiratory issues.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, resolving his previous claim for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability is resolved with a 10 percent initial rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential errors in adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of appendectomy are found to have caused her current bowel perforation and associated ileus, which in turn led to joint pain disorders. The appeal is granted for both the bowel perforation and related secondary joint pain disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of her claims related to left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bulimia nervosa, right knee patellofemoral joint syndrome, and migraine headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee disability and instability were denied. The claim for an increased rating due to right knee instability was granted, but only up to a 10 percent rating.