Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bowel incontinence, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and SMC due to loss of use of his feet, as these matters are inextricably intertwined with his claims for service connection for his back and bilateral nerve and foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left epicondylitis, as well as right and left knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists and cubital tunnel syndrome of the elbows are remanded for additional medical opinion.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain, neck strain, shoulder strain, hip and knee issues. The reasons include lack of documentation during service, reports of chronic symptoms originating in service, and poor training conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, CAD, and hypertension are all granted.,Service connection is also granted for right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and left knee residuals are being remanded for further development of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis on a secondary basis to the left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the left knee disability caused or worsened the right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to newly received service treatment records showing treatment for knee conditions during service. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee and dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 26, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand, hip, right hand, right knee, and left shoulder disabilities due to new evidence received. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to inadequate medical evidence from a March 2010 VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide retrospective opinions on the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability prior to April 21, 2015, including flare-ups and pain levels.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right and left knee conditions has been remanded due to the receipt of additional VA treatment records. The case must be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for review of these new documents.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a right hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation due to unresolved issues regarding his service-connected left knee/tibia disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, bone density disorder, radiculopathy, hip disability, right knee disability, and right foot disability.,Service connection claims are also pending for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bone density disorder, left side radiculopathy, left hip disability, right knee disability, and right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing service treatment records from May 1986 to July 1990 at Fort Leonard Wood and while assigned to F Co 4th Spt Bn Germany. The VA will attempt to locate these records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 10, 2013.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to a grant in full of the benefits sought. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD or an acquired psychiatric condition other than Major Depressive Disorder with anxious distress.