Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various lower extremity conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

A 30 percent rating for left knee instability is granted, effective November 13, 2017.,A 10 percent rating for right ankle scars is granted, effective November 13, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including whether his current conditions are related to active service or secondary to a pre-existing condition. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, shoulder, and hip conditions due to insufficient development of the record. The Veteran needs to provide VA Form 21-4142 for all private medical treatment he receives, including from 'Choice Aquatic Therapy'.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, diabetes, neuropathy of the extremities, headaches, and a knee disorder as there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of exposure to Vietnam or combat stressors.,There was also insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right knee disability was denied. The appeal regarding the effective date of service connection for major depressive disorder, initial rating and increased rating for left knee disability, and separate rating for left knee instability were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 20, 2006, to June 2, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right ankle disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His claims for asthma are also granted, but his claims for thyroid disability, cervical spine disability, hypertension (secondary to major depressive disorder), sleep disability, bilateral hip disability, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS) remain pending.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability, allergic rhinitis and maxillary sinusitis, as well as initial compensable ratings for onychomycosis, vitiligo, and tinea pedis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information regarding her left knee range of motion and instability, as well as a need for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) addressing the increased rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence, including service connection for various conditions secondary to existing disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities, including right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and left knee instability. The current disability ratings will not be determined until this is done.

The Veteran is granted a 60 percent rating for left total knee replacement with history of degenerative arthritis, effective November 1, 2016.,The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected left knee disability, effective November 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including verifying service dates and obtaining medical records. The right knee disability claim is also being remanded to determine if it is related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted as service-connected. The claims for fibromyalgia, cyst on kidney, and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 31, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The left knee, bilateral heel disorder with plantar fasciitis (secondary to the non-service-connected left knee disorder), left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, lumbosacral strain, hypertension, migraines, and vertigo/syncope are all remanded for further review.