Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arthritis of the right ankle and knee, hiatal hernia, muscle condition, skin condition, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus, back condition as secondary to bilateral pes planus, and bilateral knee condition as secondary to bilateral pes planus is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The rating reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable for left knee instability was not proper, and the 10 percent rating is restored effective October 1, 2018. The Veteran's increased ratings claim for his left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and thus the case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent disabling since June 12, 2018. The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful flexion of the right and left knees from February 7, 2023.,Service connection for a left wrist disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for left knee disability, TBI, left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and a left hip disability (secondary to right hip) was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current diagnoses or functional impairment related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the reduction of disability ratings for left and right knee instability from 10% to 0% is void ab initio. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot condition has been reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2016 rating decision. The claims for increased ratings for various conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision. The appeals for left knee and left elbow disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and/or right ankle disabilities. The case will be returned for a new examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of balance is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any in-service injury that could be linked to the condition.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder other than left hip strain, left knee strain, and left ankle strain, as well as for a bilateral pelvic disorder. The Board found that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board denied service connection for herpes, finding the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The Board remanded several other claims including tinea versicolor, broken and bitten off left middle finger, right side lower rib contusion residuals, right knee tendonitis, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, left foot disability, back condition, left shoulder disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and respiratory disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates ranging from March 16, 2001 to January 4, 2008. The conditions were related to his military service and the VA has assigned full ratings (100%) for all granted issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his combined service-connected disability rating has reached 100%, rendering the issue moot.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the neck, shoulders, lower back, elbows, wrists, hands, knees, ankles, and feet is granted as her current diagnosis aligns with her symptoms during service.

The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions have been rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran's right middle finger condition has also been rated at 10 percent.,All claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee tendonitis/tendinosis and right knee meniscal tear are causally related to his active service, granting entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 29, 2012 onwards due to the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities. The decision also grants a TDIU prior to this date based on his neurodermatitis.