Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination to address his claims.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The AOJ is directed to obtain additional VA treatment records from the Washington D.C. VAMC and any relevant private treatment records before readjudicating these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right knee injury before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, status post total knee replacement, finding that it is directly related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records, and requests that the Veteran provide information about his right knee treatment providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and left shoulder disabilities due to inadequate examinations, missing records from Moncrief Army Community Hospital, and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The claims will be reviewed with new VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to effective dates and ratings for various knee and hip conditions. The Board has determined that the claims are not yet ready for appellate consideration.,The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his right total knee replacement, but the evidence does not support a prior effective date.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bowel problems, hemorrhoids, knee and ankle disorders, and a psychiatric condition. The Veteran's death certificate indicated he died of an acute kidney injury and colon cancer.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability and whether he qualifies for a TDIU. The Veteran will be scheduled for an updated VA examination, and his employment history will need to be verified.

The Board has reopened the claim for a right knee disability and remanded it due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for uterine fibroids remains pending.,Service connection is granted for uterine fibroids as the evidence is at least in equipoise that they had their onset during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability ratings based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, but has remanded her claims for evaluations of her spine and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's hip disabilities, including right and left hip bursitis, were granted service connection from July 13, 2006. The effective date for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities is set at July 13, 2006.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for a scar of the right knee, denied service connection for hearing loss, and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and stomach condition are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded because no VA examiner has provided a nexus opinion on its presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran's total potential toxic exposure throughout his military service must also be considered.,The Veteran's right and left ankle conditions are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology, specifically considering his in-service injuries and repetitive jumping with a 100-pound backpack on his back.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is remanded for an additional medical opinion to determine its etiology, specifically considering his in-service right ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to allegations of worsening symptoms since previous examinations.