Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, headache disorder, respiratory disorder, and sleep apnea due to outstanding development needs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the effective dates are not specified.,Issues related to rating increases and earlier effective dates remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic polyneuropathy, finding it is related to the Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals, multiple myeloma, and osteoarthritis. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and COPD. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service. The Veteran's VA examiner provided negative nexus opinions, and the Board is requesting additional information about the qualifications of this examiner.

The Veteran's current right knee disability is being remanded for clarification on whether it is related to the shrapnel injury from a blast during service or if it is due to natural wear and tear.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and the propriety of reductions in her service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded due to a lack of recent medical examination.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion and instability. The claim for higher ratings is denied as the evidence does not support a rating greater than 20 percent for right knee flexion or extension, or a separate rating for instability.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis and hemorrhoids, as well as service connection for left and right knee conditions, have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for various knee, ankle, and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to incomplete medical records. The AOJ must obtain these records from private providers.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again as there may be relevant information in his National Guard service that was not previously considered.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypothyroidism, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, migraine headaches, back disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee recurrent subluxation, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the earliest effective date is December 19, 2016.,The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypothyroidism, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, migraine headaches, back disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee recurrent subluxation, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the earliest effective date is December 19, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that it is not related to his military service or service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded these cases due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 50 percent for major depression.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, left knee pain, and right knee pain have been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI, neck disability, skin condition involving the feet, low back disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability. The claims are being addressed on the merits due to new evidence received since the previous denials.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome, meniscal injury, and instability, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied an increased rating for the patellofemoral syndrome but granted separate ratings of 20 percent for meniscal injury and 10 percent for instability.

The Board has determined that the reduction in disability rating from 60% to 30% for the Veteran's left knee post total knee replacement was improper and has restored the original 60% rating. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.