Knee decisions — 2023

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims of reopening the previously denied left knee and back conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The back disability is now considered to be incurred in service, while the bilateral foot and knee disabilities are secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's knee conditions due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left knee, right hand, bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left hip disabilities were not found to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The right ankle disability was denied as the rating did not meet criteria for ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the September 2019 VA examination report. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the left knee disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee conditions should be remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records, need for further development, and potential inconsistencies in a private clinician's examination report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral syndrome warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification regarding who is the appellant in this appeal, as well as to obtain authorizations for outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted an increased rating of 30 percent for severe recurrent subluxation, and separate evaluations were granted for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking,' pain, and effusion, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension. A separate evaluation of 20 percent was also granted for a residual scar status post left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair surgery.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except eye problems, tinnitus, and stomach problems (undiagnosed or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom Gulf War illness) has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a right foot disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder due to evidentiary development needs. The Veteran's service records are silent on these issues but he reported injuries during basic training and at Fort Leonard Wood Army Base.

The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's left femur and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the disability rating claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for her bilateral foot disability, hand disability, knee disability, cerebrovascular accident residuals, and costochondritis. The RO is instructed to obtain any relevant medical records and provide a new VA examination for her hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and right shoulder strain.,The Veteran's current knee and shoulder disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety condition is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected bladder cancer.,The Veteran's BUE neuropathy and right knee arthritis are both granted as they are related to in-service exposure or injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee impairments, as well as cervical degenerative disc disease and c-spine fusion, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.,New evidence has been submitted that may affect the outcome of these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of active service.,The evidence reflects the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition underwent a permanent increase in severity beyond the natural progression during the Veteran's period of service. The right knee condition did not have onset during active service, was not caused by active service, and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of active service.

The Veteran's TDIU due to PTSD alone is granted from June 1, 2015. SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(2) is granted from June 1, 2015.