Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal regarding the effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeals regarding the effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and Dependents' Educational Assistance have been remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding restoration of special monthly compensation for the loss of use, deafness of both ears, has been remanded.

The Veteran's scar, post right inguinal hernia surgical repair is granted a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (chloracne and/or dermatitis) as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for acute renal failure (kidney condition) as due to an enlarged prostate and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for total right knee replacement, to include as due to rheumatoid arthritis and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for depression with sleep disturbance, to include as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.,An effective date of August 28, 2010 for a 30 percent rating for right knee disability (including instability, surgical scarring, and limitation of flexion) is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to a failure to comply with an October 2019 Board decision regarding transfer of paper records into VBMS.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a need for additional development, specifically regarding functional impairment of earning capacity.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current condition is not etiologically related to an in-service injury and there are no chronic symptoms of arthritis during or within one year after service.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 6, 2011 to September 23, 2013. Prior to this date, the criteria for TDIU were not met due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded because of inadequate VA examinations, including those related to the right knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran claims his current condition is related to military service, particularly his in-service knee strain diagnosis.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40% from September 12, 2024 to the present. Service connection for a low back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of causation or aggravation by service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, right and left knee chondromalacia with retropatellar pain syndrome, genu recurvatum, and meniscal repair residuals, as well as right and left ankle strain residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of right knee arthritis and instability as the Veteran did not file a claim or present new and material evidence within one year of the October 2012 rating decision denying secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, including National Guard records from 2006-2012, and a VA examination must be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and imaging studies.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee instability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 7, 2021 and from February 7, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims.

The Veteran's left knee DJD resulted in chronic pain and limitation of flexion to at most 90 degrees, even with flare-ups. A separate rating for limitation of extension was granted effective December 20, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee disability and left knee instability due to inadequate examination findings regarding the severity of the Veteran's instability.