Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examinations and evaluations to determine appropriate disability ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The cases of recurrent right eye disability and recurrent left eye disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right knee conditions due to insufficient consideration of the combat presumption and an inadequate secondary service connection opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee strain with chondromalacia and patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee strain with chondromalacia. The examinations must include both active and passive range of motion testing, as well as weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing assessments.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, which manifested as intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, and limitation of motion prior to September 19, 2017, has not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent. The Board finds that the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee conditions as well as bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with etiology opinions. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability from December 5, 2019. The Veteran also received separate noncompensable ratings for gouty arthritis of the right and left knees with limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted service connection, while his right hip disability is also granted. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's left hip disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and depressive disorder have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 27, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has also remanded his claims for service connection for left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for OSA, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's testimony and evidence suggest a possible link between his conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The remaining claims of secondary service connection for right knee, hip, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current knee conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with IVDS is dismissed as moot due to a prior grant of service connection. The claims for increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), high blood pressure (hypertension), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and headaches are all denied. The claim for service connection for flat foot-foot pain (also claimed as foot cramps/spasms of left foot) and knee conditions is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations regarding his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, tinnitus, migraine headaches, left hip disabilities, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left elbow, right elbow, and a right elbow nerve condition due to insufficient evidence addressing potential theories of entitlement.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, and left hip disorder. The right hip disorder was granted, as were the right ankle and left ankle disorders. Service connection was also denied for a left knee disorder.,Service connection was not established for a back disorder or neck disorder due to lack of in-service injury and no evidence linking current symptoms to service. Right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder were granted as they are related to injuries sustained during service.

The Board has granted service connection for neck disability, bilateral hand CTS, bilateral knee disabilities, and OSA. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination records and additional development is required. The Veteran seeks a higher rating for his left knee disability, which was previously rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee pain was reopened, and he is now entitled to a total rating for his knees. The Board found new and material evidence that supports the claim.