Knee decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee surgical scars. The appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was also dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to inadequate development of records and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 7, 2020.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left lower extremity, left upper extremity and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for further development of the medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to address range of motion testing, functional loss during flare-ups, and other relevant factors.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's knee injuries, as they are not clear if related to service or other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a surgical scar on the right knee due to incomplete records and further verification needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of left knee injury, tinnitus, bilateral shin splints, and sinusitis, allergic rhinitis due to insufficient development of the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disorders due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a combined 70% service-connected disability rating at the time of his death. However, since none of his service-connected disabilities were rated as totally disabling, the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are not met.

The Veteran's right knee and left foot conditions have been granted service connection.,A 10 percent rating for degenerative disease of the left knee has been restored effective September 2, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and for a TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the September 2020 VA examination report, as well as unclear employment status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, cervical spine disability, migraine headache disability as secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability, and urinary urgency disability as secondary to unspecified anxiety disorder are all granted.,The appeal for teeth grinding has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are currently rated based on their current functional limitations, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for any of his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disabilities, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are rated at 10 percent each.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease with chronic effusion. The case is remanded for further action on the PTSD issue.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The claim is granted to this extent only.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left elbow disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.