Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residual surgical scars, right knee was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes. Additionally, the Veteran's TDIU claim prior to April 3, 2019 was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives and the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left knee replacement.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to additional development being needed, including obtaining a medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, hand, hip, and foot disabilities as the evidence did not show they began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and erectile dysfunction (ED) as due to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder. Service connection is remanded for asthma, right knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, migraines, and a bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the possibility of worsening since his last VA examination in July 2016.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as due to herbicide agent exposure is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to the possibility that the condition has worsened since the last VA examination in July 2016.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee scar is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for presbyopia is denied as refractive errors are not considered diseases or injuries under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and psychiatric disability due to their proximate relationship to the Veteran's service-connected left above the knee amputation. The Veteran is also granted a 20 percent rating for her scar associated with her left above the knee amputation.

The claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened and granted. However, the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability remains denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal for an increased evaluation of the service-connected medial cruciate ligament strain in the left knee, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for recurrent urethra stricture was denied, and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to a lack of proper notification for an examination, as well as the need to address the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, and right leg condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee instability and awarded a disability rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee scar. The issues have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The decision on service connection for left knee disability and left knee scar remains pending.

The appeal regarding service connection for amputation of the right leg above the knee is dismissed as it has been granted in a previous rating decision. The issue of compensation under section 1151 for the same disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various spinal and joint conditions due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to service, including strenuous exercises during bootcamp and marching band activities.

The Veteran's right and left knee instability conditions are each assigned a 20 percent evaluation from September 4, 2014. The Board has granted entitlement to an evaluation of 30 percent disabling for both knees from January 25, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left knee disability due to insufficient consideration of service treatment records and the need for further medical opinion.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a 20% disability rating, effective September 21, 2017. The issue of service connection for left and right hand disorders remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral syndrome, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The decision is based on the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service separation.