Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral flat feet disability and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examination.

The reduction in the Veteran's disability evaluation for right knee meniscal tear was improper, and a restoration of a 20 percent rating is granted effective December 10, 2019. The issues related to MDD, lumbar strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee meniscal tear, right knee meniscal tear, and bilateral metatarsalgia are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right ankle disabilities have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and failure to obtain VA medical opinions. The Veteran's left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, cardiovascular disorder, hypertension, and traumatic brain injury are all at issue.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her active service.,Secondary service connection for right and left knee disabilities is also granted, with the private medical opinion supporting this determination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for headaches due to withdrawal. The issues of service connection for a right middle finger disorder, increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability), right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis are REMANDED.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder was granted service connection. The Board also remanded several other issues for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees with shin splint are being remanded due to new evidence added to their claims file.

The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under the current VA rating schedule. The Board has remanded these issues to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, which includes strain, tendonitis, and an ACL tear post-reconstruction. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during basic training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, major depressive disorder, right knee disorders, and left knee disorders due to insufficient opinions in the previous examination reports. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, prostate disability, left arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), right arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the current severity of his left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and back disorder. The issues include seeking a higher rating for left knee disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a back disorder secondary to left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, head injury residuals, and a right knee disability have been reopened. The Board has decided to remand these issues due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to his right knee, left knee and left knee scar are being remanded due to the need for further evidence regarding the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right ulnar nerve disorder, left lower extremity nerve disorder (PLMD), and right lower extremity nerve disorder (PLMD) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's left knee/leg disability is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is granted service connection. The issue of secondary service connection for the left knee condition to a service-connected left ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and back disorder must be remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's left knee strain and left hip replacement with residual pain are related to his active service.