Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (right finger condition), left finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (left finger condition), right wrist rheumatoid arthritis (right wrist condition), left wrist rheumatoid arthritis (left wrist condition), left ankle condition, cardiac condition, and skin condition have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is at least as likely as not related to service.

Service connection was denied for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disorders, psoriatic arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), torn scapula nerves in both upper extremities, neck disorder, low back disorder, and deviated septum.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and effective date were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as narcolepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic sinusitis, tension headaches, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, lower back strain, cervical neck strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, right 4th metacarpal fracture with scar, allergic rhinitis, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, right eye strabismus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to August 13, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease. The decision finds that the pre-existing right knee condition existed prior to service and was aggravated by in-service trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination to determine the current nature of the Veteran's right knee condition. The TDIU claim is also being referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, and lumbosacral strain, finding that these conditions are not related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, elbow, knee, and little toe disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and back disorders due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders have been dismissed due to the failure to include them in his initial appeal. The Board has remanded several of these issues, including left ankle, left hand, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left foot disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied increased ratings for both knees.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to errors in obtaining records from Dr. Nelson and inadequacies in the December 2019 VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee injury pain, and right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings, including those for neurological disabilities of both legs, a right knee instability claim, gynecological and sleep disabilities, and various knee and spine disabilities.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted.,Service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability are denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, left knee and right knee disabilities, gout, stroke, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, actinic keratosis, bilateral knee scars, ear and forearm scars, sleep apnea, and TDIU. The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records need to be considered before a decision can be made.