Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and right ankle disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which include generalized anxiety disorder, right knee ACL tear, tinnitus, painful scar from ACL surgery, left patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervicogenic headache, and right knee limitation of extension. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions collectively precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the January 2023 VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service are not addressed by the examiners.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, low back pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain. The appeals for chronic fatigue syndrome and hypertension have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back injury, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral foot condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to August 27, 2020 and from February 1, 2016 to August 27, 2020. The Board granted TDIU effective August 27, 2020.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service, and the character of his discharge from his second period of service is not a bar to VA benefits.,Service connection for heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met, except for a March 29, 2013 effective date for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar disc disease and bilateral hip strain.

The Board has determined that the reduction in ratings for migraines, major depressive disorder, neck disability, lumbar strain with degenerative changes/arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome was improper. The Veteran's original ratings are restored.

The Veteran's left knee and headache disabilities are being remanded for further development. The upper back disability is also being remanded, but the appeal does not involve service connection.

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted service connection, but her left knee strain, hysterectomy, and chronic low back pain are denied.

The Board has found that further development is required before adjudication of the service connection claims can proceed. The Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) medical records and VA treatment records from Monroeville, VA Outpatient Clinic need to be obtained.

The Veteran's initial increased disability ratings for tinnitus, right knee strain, and left ankle neuropathy were denied. The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and marijuana use was also denied an increase in rating.,Issues related to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings related to her service-connected right knee strain, instability, IVDS, and radiculopathy are being remanded due to the RO not substantially complying with previous Board remand directives.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the Veteran's claims file since the September 2019 SOC and requires remand for AOJ consideration. The issues of service connection for left hip disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral ankle condition, and sleep apnea are all being remanded due to lack of proper consideration in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.