Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear is dismissed. The claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome are remanded.

The appeal regarding the right knee scar is dismissed. The issues of service connection for a right ankle condition and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent from April 1, 2021 to March 9, 2022. The Board also granted TDIU based on the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is for increased ratings and service connection. The rating decision denied an increase in the rating for right knee LOM, granted a separate rating for LOM on extension of the right knee, and denied an earlier effective date for left knee disability.,Service connection was remanded for bilateral hip and shin splints disabilities.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy (left leg sciatic), and left knee strain.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder (claimed as flat foot/pes planus and foot pain related to non-PTSD personal trauma) due to a lack of evidence showing the disorders began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, left ankle collateral ligament sprain, left lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, left shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, myopia and retinal hole lattice degeneration (claimed as bilateral eye retina problems, thinning, and vision decrease), right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right knee strain, right lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, a severe stomach and colon condition, fibromyalgia, steatohepatitis, vertigo and balance issues, and flat feet; and entitlement to increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain, GERD, left knee strain, restrictive lung disease, allergic rhinitis, PB, a skin rash, and tension headaches. The Veteran was also remanded for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flat foot, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% evaluation, but no higher, beginning February 28, 2018. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for his left knee disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and timing of his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The appeals are not about a rating decision, but rather about whether the Veteran should be granted new and material evidence to reopen their previously denied claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective November 1, 2022. The claim for a respiratory disorder remains pending and requires further development to verify in-service exposure and obtain medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his right knee, left knee, and left hip conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions that consider the Veteran's most recent period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate nexus opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to bilateral hand-twitching, tinnitus, or PTSD that would warrant an increase in rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on her PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to address all required elements in the prior remands. The issues of low back, cervical spine, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder, bilateral knees, and migraine headaches have been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a lymph node disability (claimed as neck ulcer) is remanded. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, left knee arthritis with history of meniscal tear, and right knee arthritis with history of meniscal tear due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The previously denied claims for TMJ and left knee disability are being reopened.,The previously denied claim for a back disability is being remanded.