Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding her musculoskeletal disabilities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for the entire period on appeal, and a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee lateral instability from December 26, 2019. The claim for an increased rating for chronic right knee strain, laceration, and contusion was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, migraines, respiratory problems, rhinitis, sinusitis, and a right knee disorder are denied. The Board found that the current disabilities were not present in service or related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's left knee, right hip, and low back disabilities have been granted initial maximum schedular ratings from specific dates. The issues of increased ratings for the lower extremities radiculopathy and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 8, 2016, for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee with limitation of extension and impairment of instability is granted. The claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for both disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to an extraschedular TDIU rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flatfoot, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability must be remanded to obtain further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, rhinitis, sinusitis, a bilateral foot disability, and a right knee disability based on the positive evidence presented by the Veteran's lay testimony, outpatient treatment records, and private opinions of record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, shoulder, and hand conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or causation in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disorder, left knee and hip disorders, as well as chronic bronchitis, urinary hesitancy, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea prior to specific dates. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions that address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the left knee disorder. A new VA examination is needed that includes range of motion testing and measurements.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including a physical sleep disorder. The Veteran's claims are being referred back for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection and aggravation of a non-service-connected condition by a service-connected condition. The Veteran's left knee condition is being evaluated for potential secondary service connection to his right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical records and incomplete evidence. The claims will be further developed with an emphasis on obtaining relevant treatment records, including from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but a separate rating of 20 percent for instability is granted starting from August 3, 2023.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis with foraminal stenosis, right knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, left knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee gout is granted as service connected and found to be related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's private medical records, and thus this case is being remanded for further action.