Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic motor or vocal tic disorder, traumatic brain injury, left knee disorder, fibromyalgia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions in the record, and there is insufficient evidence to support a relationship between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient analysis regarding private treatment records and requests for a VA examination that reconciles these findings with the Veteran's VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development of evidence, including missing medical records and lack of examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate attempts to schedule VA examinations and insufficient evidence regarding Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service, but further examination is needed to determine if they are linked to toxic exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's left knee disorder is granted service connection as it began during service and has continued since then.,Service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, back, and neck disorders are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected psychiatric (anxiety disorder) and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee instability is rated under Diagnostic Code 5257, which provides ratings for other impairment of the knee based on recurrent subluxation or instability. The Board found that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran contends he has had to use a knee brace and fall due to bilateral knee instability. VA examinations have noted objective evidence of slight instability, but no reports of instability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected low back disorder. The bilateral knee disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lower back disabilities. The claim for left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by active duty service, while the claim for lower back disability remains denied as no new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, rated based on limited motion, are currently rated at 10 percent each.,A higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show flexion or extension limitations that would justify a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically limitation of flexion and removal of semilunar cartilage, has been rated at 10 percent since August 28, 2009. The decision grants the requested increased rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right ankle and hip/thigh conditions, as well as chronic sinusitis, are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that more development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the appellant's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted a separate rating for limitation of extension.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of a right leg disability as there is no current diagnosis or functional impairment supporting such a condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and has ordered another examination to determine the Veteran's work-related functional impairments due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and thus remands the case for further development.