Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of retrospective medical opinion addressing the evidence from the date of claim. The appellant is requested to provide any pertinent private treatment records, including those from John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected right knee and low back disabilities, which have been rated at 10 percent for over five years.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses.,The Veteran's IBS with GERD and status post cholecystectomy is currently rated at 30 percent, but a remand is required to assess the condition without considering medication effects.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine injury residuals, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, bronchitis, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard and Reserve periods of service. The claims will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective May 8, 2014, one year prior to the date of receipt of his application. The Board finds no evidence supporting earlier claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted with a rating of 30 percent for limitation of flexion, and denied for extension and instability.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for left knee instability prior to April 14, 2014. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for symptomatic residuals post-operative meniscectomy of the left knee. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee disability rating from 20% to 20%, effective January 4, 2018. The reduction was based on an inadequate examination report and post-reduction evidence suggesting improvement in the condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and low back disability have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.,The application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted, and the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the current left knee disability.,Reconsideration of the previously denied claim of service connection for sinus disability (claimed as hay fever) is granted, and the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the current sinus disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate October 2014 and March 2017 VA knee examinations. The Veteran underwent a left total knee replacement on October 18, 2022, and is currently rated at 30 percent for his left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, post-traumatic tissue mass of the right midfoot, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acne rosacea, and tension headaches. Service connection was denied for a right knee disability, arrhythmia, prostatic hypertrophy, and a disability manifested as tingling and numbness in hands, fingers, toes, and forehead.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, back, and right leg disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being reviewed again as they may be substantiated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of asthma. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for asthma, and service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea. Other claims were remanded due to lack of STRs and Reserves records.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of a left knee condition was granted. Service connection is now established for left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella. The remaining issues, including those related to the neck, shoulder, sleep deprivation, lung disorder, and neuralgia, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for sinusitis and TDIU were dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.,The Veteran was granted a 30% rating for sinusitis from December 14, 2020.

The Veteran's left knee disability, prior to August 14, 2018, warranted a separate 30 percent rating for limitation of extension due to pain and instability.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the current issues on appeal due to a lack of recent examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran needs to provide missing medical records, and a more contemporaneous VA examination must be conducted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and procedural errors, including failure to obtain service department records and private treatment records from Dr. H.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete development.