Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a failure to provide a VA examination prior to denying the claims. The Veteran is required to be provided with an examination to determine the etiology of any knee conditions.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 29, 2020 for the Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, left hip flexion disability, left hip extension disability, left hip rotation disability, and left knee disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for neck disability is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for left knee condition, right knee disability, and OSA due to insufficient evidence or potential errors in the decision-making process.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle conditions, secondary to service-connected right knee and ankle conditions, must be remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations.

The Board found that despite the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, he retained the ability to perform the physical and mental acts required by employment. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's hip, knee, and lower back disabilities are being reviewed again with new medical opinions considering his service history.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current knee disabilities are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance and being housebound due to insufficient evidence of need.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of various service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee instability, left knee instability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a lack of current diagnoses or symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee instability, left knee instability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a lack of current diagnoses or symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep apnea disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,An increased disability rating of 40 percent for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from August 11, 2022, is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations, particularly regarding service connection for various conditions related to fuel exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, and the Board found that he did not provide good cause.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, left ankle condition, right ankle condition (claimed as residuals of right ankle sprain), and vision condition. Service connection was remanded for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's current left knee and hip disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right knee conditions was denied. The initial rating for total right knee replacement is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a greater than 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right knee scar status post total knee replacement was also denied, as the scars do not meet the required area or instability/pain conditions for higher ratings.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent disability rating from June 27, 2018 to January 24, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he is currently employed and his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and left knee condition as the Veteran's conditions were found to be not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder to obtain additional medical opinions that address the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.