Knee decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity during service or after service to support a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, hypertension, heart disease (including high cholesterol), gastroesophageal disorder, headache disorder, and respiratory disorder have been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia have also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The reduction of the rating for service-connected lumbar disability from 40 percent to 20 percent was improper, and the Veteran's 40 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the issues of initial increased (compensable) rating for left hip degenerative arthritis, service connection for chronic back pain, and service connection for right knee and left knee chronic pain.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service connected. The Veteran is also remanded for a new VA examination to assess his radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and TDIU entitlement is inferred.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis has been granted service connection as secondary to her service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities. Her initial rating for the condition is now at a 10 percent, effective from February 7, 2024.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited flexion. The claim for increased rating remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and left knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions and evidence are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an increased rating for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease. The cases are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, right knee condition, and right foot drop disability. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is remanded.,The Veteran's brain tumor and seizures are not found to be related to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, or error in judgement in the Veteran's hospital care, medical treatment, or examination. Service connection for a left foot disability, arthritis, and left knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has identified several issues on appeal, including claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider all evidence, including new VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20 percent for the period prior to September 17, 2018. The rating is denied for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee flexion, extension, and osteoarthritis disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess his current range of motion and functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and foot conditions has been granted. The specific issues addressed are the left and right knee instability, patellofemoral pain syndrome (left and right knees), and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further verification of the appellant's left knee injury during a drill weekend in 2002. The appellant needs to provide specific dates of his service, complete personnel and treatment records from his Ohio Army National Guard service, and any medical records related to his left knee surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information provided by the examiner regarding the Veteran's right knee strain, specifically related to flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, eye disability, and a disability manifesting in abdominal pain and bloody stools due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's right knee and right hip disability claims due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran contends his disabilities began in service, but the VA examiners found insufficient evidence of chronicity.