Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee instability from April 11, 2005 is granted at a 20 percent disability rating. The case is remanded for further review of the lumbar spine disability and TDIU issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The lumbar spine disability claim is also pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2017. Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the service connection claims related to bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and eye/vision disorders. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities. However, both issues are remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions in the prior VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and missing non-VA treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability, including Osgood-Schlatter disease, meniscal tear, and arthritis, is being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is also granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of the current ratings for the Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and left knee strain, status post fracture, left fibula.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and bilateral knee conditions due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete examinations and scheduling issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, and a new one must be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee, left knee, and sinusitis disabilities due to incomplete or outdated evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by the development of the other claims.

The Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation as the claims file does not contain recent VA treatment records, which may be relevant to assessing his current disability levels.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders were denied in a December 2015 rating decision.,The Veteran filed new claims on October 4, 2018, seeking effective dates prior to October 4, 2018, for the grant of service connection for his right and left knee and ankle disabilities. The Board found that these claims were not timely filed as they did not meet the requirements for reopening a previously denied claim.,The Veteran's representative argued that there was CUE in the December 2015 rating decision, but this argument is not valid because jurisdiction over an earlier effective date appeal does not extend to allegations of CUE in a prior final rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including meniscus tears, arthritis, and instability. The effective dates for these ratings have not been determined yet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma or stress-related disorder and PTSD) claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence from VA clinicians. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service or is related to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his in-service fall, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for an addendum opinion from a clinician to determine if the sartorius muscle injury and spurring at the acetabulum are related to his in-service fall.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his service-connected left knee disability or bilateral shin splints, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right knee scar is granted a disability rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's knee and left lower extremity conditions are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Additional development is needed for the right and left knee disabilities, as well as the peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her military service and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.