Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal regarding an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC housebound from April 1, 2011 based on finality of previous decisions and lack of evidence showing permanent housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU from August 15, 2019 to September 7, 2020 is granted. An earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound criteria prior to September 8, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder. His left knee disability remains at a 10% rating, and the right wrist tendonitis claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for dizziness was also denied due to the lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (to include as secondary to lumbosacral strain), and left knee condition. Service connection was denied for left hip condition and right hip condition due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis and right knee condition as secondary to adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression due to a lack of an addendum medical opinion addressing whether obesity served as an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder and his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's previously assigned 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion with pain and post-traumatic arthritis, as improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work was not established.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee patella ligament tendonitis resulted in painful bilateral knee motion, which did not meet or approximate the criteria for ratings in excess of 10 percent at any time during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and earlier effective dates for her service-connected total right-knee replacement and total left-knee replacement, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date or higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee pain has been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's left knee claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence. The Veteran's migraine headaches claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee limitation of motion on extension or flexion, but granted a rating not to exceed 20 percent for left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, knee, ankle, heel, and toe disorders that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder is denied as there is no competent or credible evidence to suggest that any validly diagnosed headache disorder is etiologically related to his in-service service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger disorders are all denied as there is no competent or credible evidence to suggest that any validly diagnosed right hand disorders are etiologically related to his in-service service.

The Board has granted the appellant's request for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on January 11, 2021, due to an emergency situation related to a service-connected right knee disability. The VA facilities were not feasibly available and using them beforehand would have been unreasonable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) was dismissed as the AOJ had already granted it in a September 2024 rating decision. The claims for flat feet, prediabetes, dehydration, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, right toe disability, disability associated with painful urination, and erectile dysfunction were denied due to lack of evidence showing their onset during service or being related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that his current condition did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including neck, bilateral finger, knee, foot, and elbow disabilities. The Veteran's claim is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the left and right knees each receiving a separate 10 percent rating. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition is remanded.