Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left and right knee conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left and right shoulders as well as knees, finding that the Veteran's condition is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has denied readjudication of the claims for eye condition, right knee condition, and GERD. The claims for neurologic signs or symptoms of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to issues related to left knee and right hip disabilities, including a request for service connection for erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated 10 percent disabling, while his right hip strain is rated noncompensable.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right or left knee disability, and the Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.,The Board has also determined that there is no evidence of a current left knee disability, and the Veteran's claim for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The rating will remain in effect until further notice.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for instability of the left knee effective April 16, 2010. However, the Veteran's increased ratings claim remains on appeal as his left knee increased rating claim is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's right and left knee instability were denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to October 29, 2021.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee instability from October 29, 2021, were granted at a rating of 20 percent each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and housebound status due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, right and/or left knee, right and/or left ankle, and right and/or left foot disabilities as arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's left knee disability, including strain and pain, is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including chondromalacia patella and instability, is rated at 50 percent since December 16, 2022. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability has been granted throughout the appeal period.,Since February 7, 2021, a noncompensable rating for left shin splints was granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology and whether it is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis due to contradictory findings in the VA examination report.,The October 2021 VA examiner stated that there was not enough evidence to render a diagnosis, but also marked that the Veteran suffers from rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; left hip condition; right hip condition; left knee pain; right knee pain; and left shoulder condition due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided in the July 2022 rating decision are inadequate due to a failure to consider the combat presumption, the Veteran's lay statements, and the RO's favorable findings regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities. The case is being remanded for new VA examinations and medical opinions to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee and back conditions, finding that the VA opinions were inadequate and requiring further examination to determine the etiology and relationship to service-connected orthopedic conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed due to the grant of service-connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, right knee condition, and low back condition. The appeals for migraine headaches and post-concussion syndrome are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot condition, as the earliest date entitlement arose was November 3, 2021. The knee claims are remanded for new VA medical opinions.