Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral knee conditions were denied as the evidence did not show that higher ratings were warranted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's right knee disability, including service connection for various other conditions. The claims are being returned for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include his lumbar spine, bilateral pes planus, knee, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to incomplete personnel records.,Service connection is denied for obstructive sleep apnea and sleep disturbances as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, kidney condition, valvular heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, GERD, stomach condition, asbestosis, ankle conditions, back disability, knee conditions, arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition.

The Veteran's low back disability with radiculopathy to the bilateral knees is granted as service connected. The right knee, migraine, and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck condition and hematologic condition due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The right knee condition, atypical chest pain, and bruxism cases are also being remanded.,The appellant's anemia is being remanded as there is no discussion on whether it may be presumptively connected to service under the PACT Act or Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune exposure.,The right knee condition is being remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion. The atypical chest pain case is also being remanded for a clear diagnosis and opinions on both direct and secondary service connection, while the bruxism case is being remanded for an opinion on secondary service connection.,The appellant's atypical chest pain is being remanded as there are no conclusive diagnoses of the condition. The right knee condition is being remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion. The bruxism case is also being remanded for a clear diagnosis and opinions on both direct and secondary service connection.,The appellant's bruxism is being remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion, as well as lack of consideration of his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left foot condition, right foot condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition have not been addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis are related to service, while his left knee strain is considered secondary to service-connected bilateral calluses of the feet. The appeal for hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The appeal as to diabetes mellitus type II has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The appeals for obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernias were rated as small and not readily reducible, but they were not large or postoperative recurrent. The left knee arthritis was not manifest by x-ray evidence of two or more major joints. Therefore, the claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, and has also granted a 30 percent initial rating for bilateral pes planus prior to October 16, 2019.

The Veteran's asthma is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances during service, as per the PACT Act. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee femoral nerve and sciatic nerve disabilities have been granted effective from November 5, 2010.,Effective dates for the respective grants of benefits are set at November 5, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, knee strain, and knee instability, status post total knee arthroplasty, is granted. The claims for secondary service connection for a left hip disability and a left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the issues on appeal, and thus the case is being returned to the Regional Office for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and hip disabilities due to incomplete records and need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for right knee osteoarthritis is remanded due to inadequate examination.,Left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II are all remanded as the Board needs additional opinions on their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her current disabilities and their relationship to service.