Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The Board finds in favor of the claim, as there is at least equipoise evidence that the condition was incurred during service. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches. The remaining claims are remanded and will be reconsidered with additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted, and the effective date is September 7, 2010. Fees were awarded to both C.L. and A.G., with a 17.39% fee for A.G. and a 2.61% fee for C.L.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for her right hip, left hip, left knee, and lower back conditions due to incomplete development. The issues are currently pending further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in March 2021 did not consider all relevant service treatment records, and thus requires additional addenda to those examinations. The appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's OSA is related to his service-connected PTSD and neck disability.,The Veteran's right knee disability is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left knee disability, GERD, and skin disorder. These conditions are all presumed to have had their initial onset before the end of the Veteran's qualifying period of service in November 1999.,The decision is based on medical evidence that indicates these disabilities were present prior to the conclusion of the Veteran's qualifying service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a sinus disability, are granted with an effective date of August 11, 2004. The appeal regarding the sinus disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim seeking a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The remaining claims for service connection and increased ratings were remanded.

The Veteran's right knee scars are currently rated at noncompensable under DC 7805. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted for the Veteran's right knee scars during any point of the appeal period.,The September 2018 VA medical opinion was inadequate as it did not address the secondary service connection claim. A remand is necessary to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to hazardous substances during his Persian Gulf War service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claims include CLL, a left ankle condition, and a right knee condition. Remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to herbicide agent exposure. The issues of hypertension, osteoporosis, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition has been reopened. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to reopen the claim, but remands for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for pain radiating to the left buttocks and leg was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,Claims for right foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities were reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, right shoulder disability, and left ankle disability.,No effective date has been assigned as the claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right knee disability (instability and limitation of motion), right shoulder disability, left knee disability (painful motion), and ulcer, prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his combined disability rating is at least 40% since March 9, 2009. The Board finds the Veteran may be unemployable due to his knee disability.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease L4-S1 is granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher. The ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.