Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral knees and hearing loss is denied. The case is being remanded to provide a new examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of flexion and extension, is rated at 20 percent effective October 20, 2015.,A separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability of the right knee is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and back disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder, minimal degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and right knee strain due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left hip condition and back and knee issues, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected physical and mental disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 18, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including left shoulder, left hip, bilateral knee (right knee osteoarthritis specifically), and bilateral ankle conditions. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 13, 2022. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating for a right knee disability, service connection for a left knee disorder, and service connection for a low back disorder due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities are being remanded to obtain further medical evaluation and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right foot arthritis, left foot arthritis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's claimed conditions as his claims were previously denied based on lack of a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective VA opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability throughout the appeal period, including addressing functional impairment and additional loss in motion during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims regarding increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical examination reports and the need for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and right leg sciatica. The Veteran's migraine headaches and vertigo have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability was granted. Service connection for this condition as secondary to his right knee disability is also granted. However, the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability as secondary to a right knee disability remains remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for cystic acne and its residuals, to include scarring, is granted. The Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his obesity, which may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these increased rating claims. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for DMII, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for further development regarding rating decisions and service connection determinations.

All appeals for increased ratings and effective dates are dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of all pending appeals.