Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disability, psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), and sleep disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the claims for higher ratings for bilateral knee limitation of motion must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The RO is instructed to seek missing physical records from the Indianapolis VAMC and schedule new VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain prior to October 21, 2018. The evidence showed limited flexion but no limitation of extension or instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his reported in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection for right knee degeneration is denied.,Service connection for low back condition is denied.,The case of service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in her service treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide any outstanding private medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her right eye disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU from September 12, 2011. The issues of initial ratings for various shoulder, knee, ankle, and pain disorder disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's knee conditions, specifically painful motion and limitations of flexion and extension, are granted at a 10% disability rating prior to November 25, 2019. The ratings for instability and medial instability in both knees remain unchanged.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,An effective date prior to December 17, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for right and left knee arthroscopic surgeries (progression of stress fractures, tibia) have been denied as the current ratings do not accurately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for temporary total ratings due to surgeries on her left and right knees in 2016 were denied as the claims were filed more than one year after the surgeries, which is not covered by the time period on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and chest disorder. The TDIU claim related to left knee disabilities is granted as of January 9, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, as they may be aggravated by his service-connected back disability. The case is sent back to the AOJ for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's knees were aggravated beyond their natural progression by his back condition.

The Board has restored the 40 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease, effective September 1, 2018.

Service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for hypertension, headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder has not been established.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the rating decisions for DDD of the lumbar spine, as well as the propriety of separate ratings for radiculopathy.

The Board has reinstated the 30% disability rating for left knee post-operative degenerative joint disease with limitation of flexion and restored the 10% disability rating for left knee status-post ACL graft, lateral meniscectomy, and partial meniscectomy with instability effective November 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by a VA examiner. The Veteran reported falling while carrying heavy gear during enemy attacks in Vietnam, which may be related to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to unclear evidence regarding the appellant's capacity to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, specifically related to his service-connected disabilities.