Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, as well as his increased disability ratings for bilateral foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical nexus opinions on direct and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) and improper form use in filing his appeal. The issues will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 60% disability rating for his service-connected arthritis of the left knee, status post knee replacement, effective October 1, 2018. The reduction from 60% to 30% was not proper due to material improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of contemporaneous medical records and insufficient documentation recording the Veteran's complaints or diagnoses during service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee patellar instability, tricompartmental degenerative arthritis based on painful motion, and cartilage damage have been denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Effective dates prior to May 2, 2017, for the grant of initial 20 percent ratings for left and right knee cartilage damage have been granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left ankle disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The decision also mentions that further development is needed due to potential toxic exposure from the Veteran's MOS duties.

Your appeal for service connection of bilateral knee, shoulder, and foot disabilities has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use due to his right knee condition, finding that he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(a). The Board concluded that the Veteran's right knee did not result in loss of use of both legs or an arm and a leg, as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's mental health condition is granted, and his right ankle strain is granted a 20% rating from September 14, 2014 to June 6, 2016. Other claims are denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective July 5, 2017. The claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for additional disorders are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erythema nodosum has been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.,The Board is remanding several issues including tinnitus, acid reflux disease, astigmatism, presbyopia, myopia, cervical dysplasia, uterine fibroids, left knee Baker's cyst, demyelinating disease, bilateral foot neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve disability for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected right foot plantar wart and other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The left knee strain, TBI residuals, PTSD with TBI, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, and radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities were not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder with anxious features), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension are all granted service connection.

The Veteran's melanoma and related residuals, as well as his back disability and right knee disability are granted service connection. The left elbow disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and the bilateral foot disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, left knee, right knee, right hip, left shoulder and right shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right elbow condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary and direct service connection.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from February 26, 2021. The Board also found her left lower extremity radiculopathy to approximate moderate incomplete paralysis and granted it a 20 percent rating as well.