Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition due to a lack of adequate rationale in previous opinions, specifically regarding the possible threshold shifts during service and the Veteran's lay contentions. The claims are now being sent back for further review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability, to include as secondary to a right knee disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board granted a TDIU rating from July 9, 2016 to December 22, 2017 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, IHD, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient evidence, and will consider any new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and a left knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to errors in the VA rating decision, including a failure to obtain relevant VA treatment records and clarify whether knee imaging occurred. The AOJ must review the coding history for ratings of both knees and explain any changes.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a more detailed medical opinion.

The Veteran's repetitive minor strain injuries to the shoulders, knees, and elbows, as well as his left shoulder injury (diagnosed as occult fracture of greater tuberosity of the humerus), are granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with TBI was granted an initial 70 percent rating effective January 31, 2017. The upper brachial plexus injury claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's left knee chondral defect with loose bodies and meniscal tear, status post arthroscopy, is rated at a 20 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted initial noncompensable ratings for right and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings remain in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disabilities and right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions in July 2018, and because of new evidence presented at the June 2021 Board Hearing. The Veteran's representative asserted that his right ankle disability is caused by overcompensating on his right side due to his service-connected back and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining retrospective findings from an appropriate clinician to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and issuing a supplemental statement of the case on entitlement to increased ratings.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee disability and low back disability. The main issue is determining whether any of these conditions are related to service or other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's increased rating for a neck disability is granted effective May 9, 2016. The grants of service connection for left knee and right upper extremity radiculopathy are denied prior to the dates indicated. Tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated as they currently stand.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran contends his current knee and heel disabilities are related to military service, but the VA examiner found no evidence of such.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the June 2022 VA examination report and other issues related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The remand includes scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability, including range of motion testing under weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions, as well as assessing flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the specific details provided for each knee.