Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Right Knee Disability issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of GERD. The claim for service connection for residuals of a torn meniscus, right knee remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and a left foot disability (plantar fasciitis and a left heel spur) on the basis of chronic disease presumptive under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). The decision is based on evidence showing current diagnoses, an in-service injury, and continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The AOJ must obtain additional medical opinions and review outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities resulted in damage to his clothing due to the use of knee braces. The Board granted a 2018 clothing allowance for the use of both left and right knee braces.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Additionally, the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is also being remanded due to inextricability with these other claims.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for a right knee disability is granted for the period prior to February 20, 2023 and an increased 30 percent rating since then.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if they are related to his service-connected back and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for a thorough VA examination.

Service connection for low back pain, diagnosed as degenerative disc changes is granted. Service connection for lumbar pelvic dysfunction is denied. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate or incomplete opinions in previous VA examinations and evaluations.

Service connection is granted for multilevel degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, with spondylosis and IVDS, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left hip degenerative arthritis.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee condition prior to May 29, 2012 and from August 1, 2013 are both denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee strain and chondromalacia have been granted service connection.,An effective date of March 12, 2008 for the award of service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied in part. The left knee strain is rated at 10% for limitation of extension and flexion, while the left ankle disability (prior to April 10, 2017) remains rated at 10%. However, since April 10, 2017, a rating of 30% has been granted for ankylosis of the left ankle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the issues by the Veteran. The remaining issues are remanded and will be addressed further.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right ankle, right hand, and right wrist disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left hip disabilities due to concerns raised in Joint Motion for Remand (JMR2).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left ankle conditions due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine and left knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions did not have their onset during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiners provided opinions against the Veteran's claims.