Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected neck spondylosis with arthritis and low back degenerative arthritis, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected bilateral knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking increased evaluations for his degenerative joint disease, left knee with meniscal tear and instability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and instability, has been restored to a 30 percent rating effective January 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened. The appeal of the rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee instability is dismissed. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression or TBI, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development regarding treatment records from June 2016 to July 2022, specifically whether they are located in 'VistA Imaging' or 'Vista Imaging Display'. The AOJ is instructed to clarify this and obtain any associated VA or private treatment records.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability and has remanded his claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for a right foot disorder, chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, and left knee disorders. Service connection is denied for a left foot disorder and right knee disorders.,The Veteran's right foot disorder is related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left foot disorder or a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for current VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on all service-connected disabilities from December 19, 2016, to December 19, 2022, and TDIU based on the left hip orthopedic disability alone since December 20, 2022.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted on a schedular basis from September 25, 2017. The Board has also remanded the issue of TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to September 25, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right knee condition, and left knee condition. The Veteran's hypertension was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service. Her right and left knee conditions were not shown as chronic in service or related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board also noted that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of bilateral knee instability but did not find it to be related to her service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis with strain and a torn anterior cruciate ligament, finding that it is caused by overcompensating for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee strain is dismissed.,Service connection granted for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected left knee strain, and right knee disability and lumbar spine disability are also granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.,A remand is ordered for a determination on the Veteran's claim of an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee condition and grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical documentation in his file, and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, left knee internal derangement of medial meniscus, left knee osteoarthritis with degenerative joint disease, right knee internal derangement of medial meniscus, and right knee osteoarthritis with degenerative joint disease due to new evidence from his Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees due to a lack of proper range of motion measurements in the latest VA examination.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from January 10, 2005 to September 23, 2008. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 13, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied, and a separate initial 10 percent rating was granted for right knee instability.