Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected knee and hip disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from January 12, 2012 to May 28, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a right ankle strain is remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are issues with exposure basis and noise exposure during military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral disability, finding that the evidence did not support an increase to this level.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issues of service connection for renal disorder (kidney stones), neurologic disorders of the left and right upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an improper Notice of Disagreement form, and a new SOC must be issued.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's lumbar disability, right Achilles tendon disability, and left knee disability are inadequate. The Veteran is entitled to increased initial ratings for these conditions but needs further development including new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities, finding that the VA examinations provided inadequate opinions regarding causation and aggravation. The claims are now to be reconsidered with additional examination if necessary.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) due to procedural errors in the initial decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition, amyloidosis, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder strain, and left hand degenerative joint disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,New evidence has been received that may support the existence of current lung conditions and exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection for a lung condition and amyloidosis are reopened.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for left knee instability, left knee status post partial meniscectomy with DJD, and increased evaluation for left knee instability prior to April 26, 2021. Other claims such as bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee DJD, torn left lateral meniscus, and left knee strain. The examiner was asked to consider whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, higher initial ratings for his left shoulder and right knee disabilities, and a determination of whether obesity related to his service-connected conditions was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support an etiological link to service.

The Veteran's disability ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been restored, with the effective date being January 19, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and initial rating for left hand tremor with shrapnel wound (left hand disability). The evidence does not support a finding of service connection or an increased rating.

The Board dismissed all appeals of the veteran's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of those appeals.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disorder was dismissed because the AOJ had already granted service connection in an earlier decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the lack of proper range of motion measurements in previous VA examinations, and a new examination is required.