Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left knee PFS and instability have been denied. The current evaluations are at 10 percent.,For the period from June 30, 2022, the Veteran's disability ratings for left knee PFS and instability remain at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee condition, bilateral pes planus, and back condition are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a 10% rating for her left knee condition. Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus. However, the service connection claim for the Veteran's back condition is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent disability rating, but erectile dysfunction, hemorrhoids, and right knee scar post-surgery are denied initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's gout is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the bilateral knee disability is caused or aggravated by the service-connected gout remains pending as it was not addressed in the January 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to the service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because there is no medical evidence that his obesity was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for right knee strain due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's in-service knee injuries are considered, but a new examination is needed to provide sufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, as well as a low back disability. The evidence is in relative equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral knee strains, and lumbar strain have been granted. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,The Board found that there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria for disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right knee strain due to a duty to assist error. Additional development is needed, including obtaining a supplemental VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the prior decision.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild neurocognitive disorder, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain (sciatica), right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis have been denied. The decision does not address service connection for specific conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus, but denied service connection for a right hip condition and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability prior to October 1, 2018 and TDIU prior to August 28, 2017 due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability must be evaluated based on retrospective opinion(s).

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's meniscal tear of the right knee prior to December 30, 2020 and denied a compensable rating for his scar residuals. The claim for service connection for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder was dismissed as it has been fully granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and higher initial ratings for a psychiatric disability due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records, private treatment records, and work history information. A new examination is needed for his bilateral knee conditions and right elbow condition.

The Board partially vacated the decision, granting a 60 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease from August 1, 2010 to August 22, 2024 and denying ratings in excess of 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and sleep apnea to obtain further evidence and opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to missing medical records and requests for authorization of private treatment records.