Knee decisions — 2023

The claims for service connection for bilateral claw foot, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as general anxiety and dysthymic disorder), diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, right knee replacement, and strokes have all been dismissed.,The Veteran's right knee disability was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board also remanded cases involving service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 14, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome status post patellar dislocation is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and an examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to potential burn pit exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee degenerative joint disease with iliotibial band tendonitis and limitation of flexion, is the result of his service. As such, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for knee disabilities due to the need for an updated examination, specifically discussing the ameliorative effects of his medications on his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions. The issues are related to whether these conditions had their onset in or are otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has worsened, causing increased functional limitation and missed work. The VA examination report is inadequate due to the examiner's inability to objectively test for instability during the June 2018 examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient clarity in a previous opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his most recent period of active military service from May 2010 to December 2013. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The Board also remanded cases regarding rating increases for left knee, right knee soft tissue quadricep tear, and right knee extension disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The appeals are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder.,Entitlement to service connection for neurofibromatosis, eye disorder, acquired mental disorder, breast cancer, edema, neck disorder, low back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disability due to insufficient consideration of functional loss and instability, as well as a lack of recent medical records. The case will be returned for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of February 9, 2009. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to February 29, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The appeals are now pending and will be reviewed again with new evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including status post ACL repair and meniscectomy with arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating for the condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was withdrawn during his hearing. The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied service connection for right knee, left knee, kidney cancer residuals, varicose veins, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service.