Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and inadequate opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated as compensable, but service connection for left and right knee disabilities has been granted.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities based on continuity of symptomatology since active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, left knee tendonitis, chest wall muscle strain, and tension headaches are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to a lack of recent medical evidence, new theories of entitlement, or procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable disability rating for left eye cataract and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tendonitis of the left knee is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for a new examination and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has referred several claims to the AOJ for further development and final adjudication, including service connection for a right hip disability, hypertension, strokes secondary to hypertension, bilateral lower extremity swelling (edema), right ankle disability, and rating of a right knee disability in excess of 20 percent. The AOJ should address these issues promptly.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a left knee disability. However, the case is being remanded as further medical examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, is related to service and granted. The issue of service connection for fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and lateral instability of the right knee have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on current diagnostic criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, neck conditions, bilateral knee conditions, joint conditions, and back conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle, right knee, and back disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further examination.,Evidence of record does not support the reopening of claims for bilateral hip disabilities due to lack of a clinically diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions has been dismissed. The Board also dismissed the appeal regarding a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from May 11, 2015 through April 19, 2016 and since October 21, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, left knee status-post ACL repair with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis. The conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the direct and secondary service connection bases.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service right knee injury. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including consideration of any aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was not productive of frequent episodes of 'locking,' pain, and effusion into the joint; limitations of flexion; limitation of extension; x-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations; or recurrent subluxation or lateral instability prior to June 8, 2012.,From June 8, 2012 to December 16, 2020, the Veteran's left knee disorder manifested consistent with a 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease and medial meniscus tear status post arthroscopy. On or after December 17, 2020, the Veteran's left knee disorder is manifested by no more than a limitation of extension to 5 degrees, a limitation of flexion to 55 degrees, and no recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.,Prior to December 17, 2020, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, the Veteran's right knee disorder manifested consistent with a 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease. On or after December 17, 2020, at worst the Veteran's right knee disorder was manifested by limited extension to 30 degrees.,The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disorder have not been met prior to June 8, 2012.,From June 8, 2012 and December 17, 2020, the criteria for an evaluation of 40 percent for a left knee disorder have been met. On or after December 17, 2020, the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for a left knee disorder have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left knee disabilities. The conditions are presumed to have been incurred during active service.