Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is granted, while a higher rating for left knee tendonitis is denied. Service connection claims for cervical spine and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and PTSD is remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and right ear drum disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability due to secondary service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and neck disability, effective February 6, 1996, based on clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds no higher rating is warranted. Service connection for a right knee disability and neck disability is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or evidence of in-service injury. The low back disability claim is remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, but denied housebound status and TBI-based SMC.

The Board has found the records incomplete and remanded for several reasons, including obtaining updated private treatment records from the Veteran's ENT provider and VA treatment records. Additionally, a new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to inadequate previous examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the development of his claim for service connection for left knee tendinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his symptoms and limitations were manageable with current treatment.

The appeal for increased ratings and effective dates for left and right knee disabilities, as well as the inferred claim of TDIU based on these issues, is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disability was aggravated by service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition to include pain, arthrosis, and osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of left knee joint osteoarthritis and credible lay statements supporting continuity of symptomatology from in-service until diagnosis.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted a 100 percent rating. The ratings for left and right knee tendonitis, as well as the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and right ankle sprain, are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a direct service connection opinion for the Veteran's left knee disability. The claim will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's left knee patellar bursitis/tendinitis with degenerative joint disease, limitation of flexion, is not more than 60 degrees in flexion and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right knee disability is also currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's right knee disability alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 29, 2014. Effective April 2, 2015, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC(s) due to his service-connected right knee disability and additional service-connected disabilities that combine to at least a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, hemorrhoids, residuals of a fracture of the left wrist, iliotibial strain of the right knee with degenerative joint disease, Graves' disease and irritable bowel syndrome and gastroenteritis have been granted increased ratings. TDIU, SMC based on housebound criteria, and basic eligibility for DEA have also been granted effective as of May 23, 2017.