Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities due to new evidence showing chronic pain in his hips and knees. The claims are being reviewed again as there is potential that these conditions may be related to service, specifically airborne jumps.

The Veteran's right knee condition, bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and low back condition with radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,Service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically his past arthroscopic surgery. The VA must obtain private treatment records and schedule a new examination to clarify these issues before rating the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are granted service connection. The right foot disability, left foot disability, and allergic rhinitis claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service. The claims for higher evaluations and service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a back disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during active duty training (ACDUTRA) or any link to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus tear with instability, is rated at 10 percent. The rating for instability of the left knee was denied beginning June 24, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional records. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is being reviewed again to determine if it was incurred in service or related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine his duty status during reserve service in the United States Coast Guard and United States Navy Reserve, as this will impact whether his contended onset dates occurred during periods of service when he was a Veteran for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, and knee disabilities due to additional evidence being associated with the claims file.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a skin disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The right knee disability was remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee condition was denied. He is now entitled to separate ratings for limitation of extension and instability.,His claim for an increased disability rating for plantar fasciitis, left foot, is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's increased ratings claims for left knee limitation of flexion and right knee limitation of extension were granted, while his service connection claims for bilateral shin splints, cervicalgia, ankle disability, and left hamstring grafting were remanded. The Veteran was also denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a need for another medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disabilities and their impact on his employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis. The examination report is deemed inadequate due to its lack of addressing the Veteran's contentions about in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and have not been obtained. The case is being remanded to obtain these records, as well as any relevant personnel records from his National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and has been present continuously since then, meeting all elements of Shedden v. Principi (381 F.3d 1163).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional information and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee, and left hip disabilities. The VA will obtain more detailed retrospective medical opinions on the severity of these conditions during a specific period.