Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has found that the VA did not properly consider the Veteran's National Guard service and additional periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The Board is requesting further clarification on these dates to determine if they qualify as qualifying service. Additionally, the AOJ needs to obtain any relevant Army National Guard treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee strain disability is now service connected and rated at 10 percent effective May 4, 2023.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees due to a lack of current diagnosis.,A remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and Achilles tendonitis disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a neck strain, right hand and finger condition, left knee strain, athlete's foot, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the pendency of the claim.,Service connection cannot be established due to lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee instability and ACL reconstruction with traumatic arthritis are rated at the maximum available.,The Veteran's left knee instability and ACL reconstruction with traumatic arthritis do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for wrist, knee, and elbow conditions on the grounds that there is no current diagnosis of a disability in question.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right disability, to include as secondary to a left knee disability, and TDIU due to duty to assist errors. Additional development is needed including a new opinion on secondary service connection.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for left knee arthritis and scar, left knee, residuals of total knee replacement due to a formal defect related to concurrent elections of review options.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for lower back pain and right knee pain has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee strain have been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's current diagnoses of left and right knee strain, with the onset during active duty.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of right ankle, knee, hip, back, skeletal arthritis, bilateral eye condition, vertigo, headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities do not meet the criteria for service connection.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his educational and occupational background. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee conditions are being remanded due to pre-decisional errors and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for asthma, hemorrhoids, right knee condition, left knee condition, low back pain, and kidney stones.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's disability was caused by his service-connected hip and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient evidence. The ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disability, and left knee disability remain denied as they do not meet the criteria for increased ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee conditions are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims for service connection as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood need further evaluation.,VA is requesting additional evidence or a new examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee conditions were caused or worsened by his service-connected mental health condition.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his left knee limitation of motion, were incurred during active duty service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, but has remanded the claims for a left knee disability, right knee disability (claimed as secondary to a left knee disability), and lumbar spine disability (claimed as secondary to a left knee disability).