Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety, as well as left knee condition due to a procedural error in issuing the November 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability prior to October 6, 2020 was denied. The claim for a separate rating for right knee instability prior to that date was granted with subject to regulations governing payment of monetary awards. The claim for an increased rating for the right knee arthroscopy from December 1, 2021 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of examination or medical opinion regarding in-service injury and related disability.

The Veteran's GERD, lumbosacral strain, left hip iliopsoas tendinitis, right hip osteoarthritis and iliopsoas tendinitis, left knee condition to include tendonitis/tendinosis, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection for a broken nose (also claimed as deviated septum) is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected pes planus, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence in favor of the Veteran and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, vision, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a left knee condition due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his current condition is related to service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further examination and consideration.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right knee disability may have pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The claim is being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing direct service connection.

Effective dates of December 31, 2019, are granted for service connection of left and right knee strains and left and right ankle collateral ligament sprains.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining proper authorizations for private treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's wrist disability. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ruptured eardrum, back disability, right knee disability, gout and/or pseudogout/CPPD, left foot disability, osteophytosis of the thumb/metacarpal surgery, wrist disability, eye/vision disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but remanded the right knee disability claim due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and right ankle sprain to obtain new opinions. The claim for scar left eye/cheek is denied as no new relevant evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is restored to a 20% rating effective August 17, 2022. Ratings for his right knee disabilities remain denied.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 with degenerative joint disease and left knee degenerative joint disease and post-operative meniscectomy due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran has a sleep disorder secondary to his service-connected back and knee disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate evidence through an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including verification of combat status and a VA examination.