Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The AOJ must obtain such an opinion and address the issues of causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims of an increased rating for a right knee disability, service connection for a back disability, service connection for a neck disability, and service connection for diabetes mellitus due to pre-existing duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to her claimed hip, shoulder, knee, and ankle disabilities. She reported symptoms after service but no medical evaluations were provided.

The appeal of the right knee condition is dismissed, and the neck condition remains at a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has found that the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability, including arthritis, had its onset in active service or within one year of separation from active service.

The Board has determined that the claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities, should be remanded due to a duty to assist error. Specifically, efforts are needed to obtain records from SSA and the private physician who treated the Veteran's injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right calf muscle loss and injury, left knee pain, and degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc (neck disorder) are all denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the left knee and neck disorders.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence of a current disability in bilateral hearing loss or right calf muscle loss and injury during the appeal period, and the Veteran did not sustain injuries related to service.

The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.,The Board has found that the appellant does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including for heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), hypertension, cervical spine condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, or foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left knee meniscectomy semilunar cartilage removal was improper, and restored the original grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, right knee, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The evidence did not establish a clear and unmistakable error in the finding of current diagnoses or show a causal relationship to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a 60% evaluation, effective from the date of claim. The right shoulder disability remains at 20%. Other claims for service connection are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee pain, as well as lower thoracic pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees with right meniscus repair, and trochanteric pain syndrome of the bilateral hips as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, finding that his ED is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for right knee instability was denied as there is no objective evidence of instability.

The Veteran's disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and limited extension of the left knee have been restored to their original levels effective June 1, 2021.,The restoration of ratings is granted for all three conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee condition, to include left knee strain due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's STRs document left knee strain and ongoing pain, but the VA examiner concluded that his current condition is less likely related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete or inadequate etiology opinions in previous VA examinations.