Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, including secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, is granted. The condition was not related to military service and no aggravation by the service-connected left knee disability could be established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and shin splints due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination. The case is now pending with a request for a new opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain, right wrist sprain, right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The disabilities are all deemed to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee scar, skin disability, and traumatic brain injury. The claim of service connection for a back disability is remanded due to failure to obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Board has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC enrollment to be legally inadequate and remanded for a new medical opinion that adequately addresses the criteria for eligibility as set forth in VA regulations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is rated at 60 percent due to severe painful motion or weakness throughout the rating period. The appeal was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scrotal abscess and right knee recurrent sprain with chronic arthralgia were denied as the Veteran failed to attend VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of cold injury of right foot, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are related to his service. The examiner will need to diagnose any existing knee conditions and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has found that additional development is needed to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI, chronic fatigue syndrome, pes planus, GERD, asthma, left hand condition, right hand condition, sleep apnea, and gout have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and bilateral knee strains.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disability was pre-existing and the examiner must determine if it was aggravated during service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee; right knee strain with instability (limitation of flexion); and right knee strain with instability (impairment of the knee) have been granted effective December 30, 2022.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected left knee disability have been denied. He was awarded 20 percent for strain, meniscal tear, arthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and chondromalacia patella with instability; 10 percent for arthritis with limited flexion; and no rating for arthritis with limitation of extension.