Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure of the Veteran to appear for scheduled examinations. The Veteran is advised that she must cooperate with examination requests.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded the claims for service connection for depressive disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are also under consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee and left total knee replacement residuals are remanded due to the need for further VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right-hand disability. However, the issue of service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and hip disabilities for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, skin condition, left knee disability, and TDIU due to a lack of recent VA examinations and insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the withholding of VA compensation benefits payments for military drill pay and the determination of entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are at issue.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for osteomyelitis and a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The appeal regarding the higher rating for osteomyelitis has been denied, while the appeal for the separate rating for instability has been granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted as service connected. The right knee and respiratory disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and a 20 percent rating is granted as of September 15, 2022, for limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequacies in previous examinations and inconsistencies in medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from May 12, 2023. The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, pelvic injury, and low back disability.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to December 9, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee strain has been rated at 30 percent since October 2022, reflecting the severity of his symptoms and disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his radiculopathy and flexion limitations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and corroborating in-service stressors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service.,The Veteran does not currently have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA benefits purposes.,A left knee disability was not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.,A right shoulder disability was not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disorders due to a need for additional medical inquiry, specifically regarding whether back disability caused or aggravated these knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left and right knee traumatic arthritis has been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.