Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right eye angle-recession glaucoma is granted service connection. The Veteran's left knee disability and post-surgery right knee disability are each granted separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5258 and 5260, with the latter being granted a higher rating of 60% effective October 21, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to his current disabilities.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for pes planus and right knee disability. The left knee disability claim is denied due to lack of a current disability.

The Veteran's cervical, lumbosacral, right knee, and left knee strains have been granted service connection.,A rating of 10 percent has been assigned for the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right foot, right knee, right ankle, and left toe disorders and her service-connected avascular necrosis of the hip.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for gynecological issues and right knee disability due to inadequate opinions from a November 2018 VA examiner. The temporary total rating claim is also being remanded as it could significantly impact the decision on these two issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions, including skin condition, flat feet, GERD, left knee condition, left wrist condition, and left wrist scar. The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension were granted service connection.,Several issues are remanded for further review, including initial ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee disability are being remanded for further evaluation due to the significant period of time since his last examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his claims related to right knee, left knee (post-surgical intervention), PTSD, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's increased rating for left knee disability from March 8, 2018 is denied as the current range of motion measurements do not warrant a higher rating and the existing 20 percent rating has been in place continuously for more than 20 years.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, and left knee chondromalacia with surgical repair, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to January 19, 2012. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left hip, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as her headaches, are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or causation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability, based on painful motion and limitation of flexion. The issue of entitlement to a separate rating for his meniscal tear is remanded due to new evidence.

The reduction of the evaluation for the Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion was restored to a 10 percent rating.,The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for glaucoma is denied. The evidence does not show that there was actual improvement in the Veteran's left knee flexion at the time of the reduction, and the additional evidence received since the August 2007 rating decision is cumulative or redundant.,Service connection for a heart disorder is denied. The evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that the Veteran has had a heart disorder as chronic in service or within an applicable presumption period.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The evidence of record does not show that the Veteran has had hearing loss at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,Service connection for a corneal abrasion of the eye is denied. The evidence of record does not show that the Veteran has had an eye disorder characterized by an abrasion (eye abrasion) at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim that caused a functional impairment in earning capacity.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded. The evidence of record does not show that the Veteran has had OSA at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,Service connection for an allergy disorder is remanded. The evidence of record does not show that the Veteran has had an allergy disorder at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right knee disability due to inadequate VA opinions and failure of the Veteran to report for an examination. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of consideration under the PACT Act, and also because further examinations are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disability prior to July 25, 2017, was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period from November 22, 2008, to July 12, 2010.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative arthritis and right knee strain, right ankle strain, right hip strain, impairment of the right thigh, and limitation of extension of the right thigh due to their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle condition.