Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and left knee strain with osteoarthritis and patellofemoral chondromalacia are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions addressing functional loss and severity of his disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his right and left thumb tenosynovitis. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his left knee osteoarthritis, as well as whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing his bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service injury or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for frost bite of the Veteran's right hand, left foot, and left hand. The Board also granted service connection for a bilateral knee condition.,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between in-service events and present conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability due to failure to appear at scheduled examinations. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee chondromalacia patella, tinnitus, sleep disability, and respiratory disability have been granted. The Veteran is also remanded for additional examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed sleep and respiratory disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The case was remanded to obtain additional medical records.,Service connection for vertigo was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his left knee prosthetic replacement and service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability from October 1, 2008, to August 29, 2010. The examiner is requested to address whether the Veteran's flare-ups amount to functional equivalence of ankylosis based on the identified July 2009 records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his military service.,The Veteran's nasal condition/allergies are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, knee, hip, and low back disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the period under consideration.,VA has not found any clinically significant right ankle, knee, hip, or low back disability in the Veteran's records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective January 19, 2018. Service connection for her right knee condition is granted, while service connection for her left knee condition is denied.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability, effective January 1, 2020, finding that his condition had not improved under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for his back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to his military service as a paratrooper.

Your initial rating for a left knee disability was granted in 2019 at 10 percent. Your appeal to get a higher rating has been dismissed because it was not filed within one year of the original decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds additional evidence supports a higher rating.,Both knees are currently rated at 30 percent. The Veteran's right knee has been found to have limitation of flexion to 15 degrees or less on flare-ups, warranting a higher 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds additional evidence supports a higher 40 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective October 10, 2023. The decision also grants a TDIU for the same period.