Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several claims for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection requests, including those for CFS, hypertension, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability (secondary to bilateral pes planus), and costochondritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment. The Veteran is service-connected for several disabilities, but none are directly related to his request for benefits.

The Veteran's left knee status post total knee replacement is granted a 60 percent evaluation, effective from September 1, 2018. The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease remains at a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for motorcycle accident injuries, left-hand condition, right-hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee pain has been received. The appeal is granted in part, but the issues regarding OSA as secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee meniscal tear, instability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFS) as well as right knee meniscal tear, instability, and PFS. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported injuries during a helicopter crash in Vietnam.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits were reduced due to his felony incarceration, which was proper as he was incarcerated for more than 61 days and received his first payment on October 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his hearing loss issues. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence submitted during the remand process.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as an initial compensable rating for a forehead scar.,There is no evidence of any current bilateral knee disorder that began during active service or is related to in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional records from correctional facilities where the Veteran served.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims were remanded for a VA examination regarding GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right knee degenerative joint disease, right knee instability, left ankle fracture, and left ankle scar) are rated at a combined 40 percent prior to June 1, 2017. The Board finds that these conditions do not render the Veteran unemployable for substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee strain is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,VA has remanded cases regarding cervical spine conditions, left knee arthritis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and tinnitus for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,Service connection for a lower back condition is granted. The Board finds that service connection is warranted based on in-service events and current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected status-post operative left knee with degenerative changes associated with status-post operative right knee replacement with degenerative changes, and also for an effective date earlier than August 15, 2016 for the grant of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee instability is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The AOJ will consider this additional evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding the onset of his conditions.