Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Board will schedule additional VA examinations to determine the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle condition are dismissed due to untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) submissions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition is also dismissed due to an untimely NOD submission.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right hip pain, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for nerve disability and right knee disability due to inadequate medical examinations, failure to obtain a PACT Act compliant opinion, and need for further evidence.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to a claims processing error, as she submitted her request on an incorrect form.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including failure to consider relevant medical evidence and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at 30 percent from August 6, 2008, to May 28, 2013, and from July 1, 2013, to December 30, 2019. A TDIU is granted effective February 4, 2013.

The Veteran's right knee condition is granted as secondary to her service-connected right ankle condition. The Board also remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his service-connected left knee fracture with instability, right knee instability, left knee limitation of flexion, and right knee arthritis.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of right knee meniscus tear and scar, as well as a favorable rating decision on the evaluation for right knee meniscus tear. The Veteran's claim is pending since March 31, 2017.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for TMJ was denied as his interincisal range did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran had stopped working on March 20, 2015.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that these ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that her current condition was not incurred in or due to her time in service nor is it due to her service connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, sleep apnea as secondary to headaches, and hyperhidrosis have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability or relationship to service.,The Veteran's cervical strain claim has been remanded due to the inadequate opinion provided by the VA examiner regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, prostate cancer, and left knee disability is denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The VA has remanded the cases for additional development.