Knee decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for right knee pain and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions, and the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee strain, as well as service connection for a back condition (claimed as back pain), were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent under DC 5260 for right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD with residuals of right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective from April 9, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine (claimed as neck disability), left knee strain, and right knee strain due to a lack of adequate rationale in the previous VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including gathering additional evidence to support claims for increased disability evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The case is now pending with a request for a supplemental examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee, nasal, jaw, and foot disabilities are granted. The claim for bilateral pes planus is also granted on the basis that it was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, stomach disability (GERD), jaw disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding of chronic disabilities that were aggravated by service or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 100 percent effective September 30, 2016. A 20 percent disability rating for right knee instability is granted from September 30, 2016 to April 12, 2021 and a higher rating is denied thereafter.,The Veteran's right knee instability was initially rated at 70 percent effective September 30, 2016. A 20 percent disability rating for the same condition is granted from April 12, 2021 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, claiming it was related to a right knee fracture and gout. The VA examiner found no evidence that the current condition began during service or is linked to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an effective date of June 23, 2012 for a separate 10 percent rating for left knee patellar instability associated with his service-connected left knee arthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's subjective reports of knee instability and the use of a brace since his separation from active duty in 2012.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for reopening of service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities due to procedural errors in categorizing issues on appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence to support this determination based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disability, a temporary total disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 for an acquired psychiatric disability, and a TDIU due to unresolved development needs.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will need to obtain additional evidence and provide a new or addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election. The appeal of lumbosacral strain was remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis. The claims were decided on a direct basis as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including limitation of extension and associated scars, effective from May 18, 2018.,The Veteran was also awarded TDIU and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) on January 1, 2019.

The appeal is dismissed because there was no decision for the Board to review. The Veteran submitted a notice of disagreement on October 15, 2022, but no reviewable decision was issued by the AOJ within one year prior to that date.