Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for service connection were not supported by evidence showing a link between his conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee arthroplasty limitation of extension is granted, and he is now rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the 2022 calendar year due to wear and tear on his clothing caused by a left knee brace used to treat his service-connected left knee strain.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 30 percent disabling, effective the date of his January 2023 increased rating claim. The Veteran's right lower extremity scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right ankle, left ankle, left knee, and right hip disabilities as secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not rescheduling her examinations, and is directing the AOJ to obtain medical opinions regarding the severity of her disabilities during the relevant period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected left knee arthritis disability, based on limitation of extension, was granted with an effective date of February 17, 2021.

The Board has identified errors in the VA examinations conducted before the March 2022 rating decision and has ordered remand for further evaluations to determine the current severity of the service-connected bilateral foot condition and left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, bladder incontinence (claimed as secondary to hypertension), right hand arthritis, left hand arthritis, and a sleep disability. The claim for tinnitus was also denied.,Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with major depressive disorder associated with right knee strain and/or weight gain due to inability to exercise due to chronic pain caused by his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining additional medical opinions and VA/Non-VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for asthma, IBS, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to incomplete medical records and failure to provide VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been awarded.,Service connection for PTSD is denied because there is no evidence of a diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate examination in November 2021. The Veteran's representative and VA General Counsel agreed that the duty to assist was not satisfied, as the November 2021 VA medical opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee strain with meniscal tear was granted on July 10, 2020. The Board found that the effective date should be set at this date as it is when VA received the supplemental claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification regarding his service-connected disabilities, including his military service records and exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims will be reconsidered based on the evidence of record at the time of the August 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a higher rating and compensable rating for his knee conditions before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat feet have been aggravated, but the current disability is not service connected.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability during service or linked to service. The claim for paranoid schizophrenia remains denied.,Sleep disturbances are not supported by medical evidence and there is no in-service event or disease.,Prostate cancer and its residuals have not been shown to be related to service, nor can they be attributed to the Veteran's prostate cancer.,Right knee condition has not been linked to service. The claim remains denied.,Back condition has not been linked to service. The claim remains denied.,Left lower extremity varicose veins have not been shown to be related to service. The claim remains denied.,Right lower extremity varicose veins have not been shown to be related to service. The claim remains denied.,Erectile dysfunction is not linked to prostate cancer and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, so the claim remains denied.,Left knee condition has not been shown to be related to service. The claim remains denied.,Right leg circulation condition has not been shown to be related to service. The claim remains denied.,Bilateral plantar fasciitis has not been shown to be related to service. The claim remains denied.