Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is granted, with the condition being diagnosed as right knee strain and retropatellar pain syndrome. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for neck arthralgia and left knee arthralgia, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding these conditions. The Veteran's symptoms of joint pain began during service and have persisted since then.,Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no direct or secondary service connection established.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and foot conditions, including gout of the right knee prior to November 15, 2017, and left knee with limitation of extension prior to July 28, 2016, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for gout of the left great toe prior to March 24, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding her claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, undergo VA examinations, and have their claims re-evaluated.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from June 27, 2022 is moot as she has a combined disability rating of 100%.,Prior to June 27, 2022, the Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because her employment status does not indicate marginal or unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his left knee disability and the etiology of his right knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities prior to August 16, 2022. The claims are now considered resolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder, neck, and left knee conditions due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims are not yet fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hips and right hand arthritis, as well as the right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right knee instability, finding that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim was denied for higher ratings prior to September 2, 2021 and from September 2, 2021 to January 18, 2023. However, he received a 60 percent evaluation for ankylosis of the right knee beginning January 18, 2023.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability prior to August 27, 2019. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease was denied. A separate 20 percent rating for the right knee meniscal tear is granted, effective May 16, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, sleep disturbance, and fatigue are remanded due to the need for a TERA opinion.,The Veteran's service connection claims for back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to the need for an examination addressing both etiology and pathophysiology of the conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a right foot disability (claimed as pes planus) is remanded due to the need for a TERA opinion.