Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the previous VA examinations and opinions. The issues of left knee disability, left foot disability (pes planus), and tinnitus are being reviewed with new evidence and expert opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence linking current conditions to the Veteran's in-service treatment. The lumbar spine disorder was also not granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is dismissed as a matter of law. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current right knee disability and active service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the lumbosacral disability were inadequate and remanded. The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral feet, ankles, and knees are also remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding functional impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating, effective March 3, 2021.,An initial 50 percent rating for migraines is granted, effective March 3, 2021.,Service connection for OSA and right knee disability are both granted. The right knee service connection decision was remanded.,The appeal of a duty to assist error during higher-level review (HLR) for the right knee disability is dismissed.,An earlier effective date than March 3, 2021, for the grant of service connection for migraines is denied.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the April 2022 decision on appeal. The Board must associate copies of all relevant private treatment records from VistA with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability rating were denied. The Veteran was granted a temporary total evaluation, an increased rating of 10 percent for left hip limitation of flexion, and a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5054 for residuals of right hip replacement from February 1, 2019. The Veteran's claims for SMC were also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, high blood pressure, right knee disorder, and lumbar disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's status post above the knee amputation of the right lower extremity, residuals of multiple failed right total knee arthroplasty revisions, and RLE painful scars are rated at 60 percent and 10 percent respectively. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected conditions or if it was caused by obesity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, neck condition, and right knee condition due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions.

Service connection is granted for DDD with strain and degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine.,Service connection is granted for right knee degenerative arthritis with post-traumatic changes.,Service connection is granted for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and chondromalacia of the left knee are being remanded for additional development.,A VA examination is needed to address the severity of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, specifically his reports of throbbing pain, swelling, and leg tremors at night.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of specific information regarding where pain begins during range of motion testing, and requests that new VA examination be conducted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination, and the Veteran's right knee arthritis needs further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right knee disability and various ratings for coronary artery disease. The main issue is that the AOJ did not fully comply with previous instructions to verify the mailing address of the Veteran's unit at Ft. Lewis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 21, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to a claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s), prior to August 10, 2022. However, the Board found that VA's duty to assist requires an examination to determine if the Veteran is housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to insufficient efforts in obtaining relevant private treatment records and the need for a VA examination.