Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for increased ratings and service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's representative requested information about the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided the May 2023 examination reports, June 2023 addendum opinions, and the internal medicine physician's opinion with respect to hypertension.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals for reopening his right shoulder disability claim and increasing ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, neck, right hip, and right knee disabilities. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided by a private examiner.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions in the August 2019 remand. Additional evidence was also received since the March 2020 SOC, including medical treatises discussing spinal injuries in parachutists.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and respiratory disability due to new evidence submitted after the issuance of the August 2014 SOC. The AOJ is required to review this additional evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to new evidence received after the September 2008 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, upper extremity, and foot disorders as they are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for a right knee disability is reopened, and service connection is granted.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, right knee strain, and cervical strain are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also established for rhinitis and left wrist sprain. Groin rash was denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, but has remanded them for additional VA examination with opinion to consider the medical literature provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claims for left knee, right knee, low back, scar from hernia surgery, and heart conditions are still pending and will be remanded for further development.,New evidence received since the last final denial supports reopening the claims for tinnitus, but additional information is needed to determine if any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities have been reopened based on new evidence.,Service connection for these conditions is now granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total replacement of the joint, is now rated at 60 percent effective May 18, 2023.

The Board has found that the VA's remand directive to obtain SSA records for the Veteran has not been completed. As such, another remand is necessary.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from June 21, 2007 to July 31, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for a TDIU from July 31, 2018 is dismissed as moot because he is now in receipt of a 100% combined disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee disorders, migraines, and upper extremity scars are related to service. However, due to inadequate VA examinations, the Board is remanding these claims for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development of evidence. Specifically, his right knee TKR rating is being returned for additional consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining certain private treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for sleep apnea and right knee disorders before the Board could make a decision.