Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.,No effective date is assigned as the claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's request for a TDIU rating since October 23, 2014 is dismissed due to the combined 100% schedular disability rating. For the period before October 23, 2014, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee strain with degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopy, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.,The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no persuasive weight of evidence to support these claims.,The Board noted that while the Veteran reported in-service back pain and knee conditions, post-service medical records did not show development of these conditions within a year after service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TMJ disability, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted. The decision also denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issue of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability due to conflicting opinions and lack of clear evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the third element of service connection (a link between the current disability and service) due to lack of chronicity.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome), have been granted service connection. A 40 percent rating has been assigned for the low back disability prior to September 3, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral knee chondromalacia patella, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of patellar chondromalacia is related to her in-service knee pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical neck disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's mixed sleep apnea is granted as a MUCMI. The right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and psoriasis disabilities are denied due to lack of current diagnoses. The low back and left knee disabilities are also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a lumbar spine condition due to insufficient evidence in the VA opinions provided. The Veteran asserts that his current conditions are related to injuries sustained during service, but the VA examiners have not addressed these specific points.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disability are related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, which is secondary to his service-connected varicose veins, has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee condition is secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder. The VA needs to obtain a new medical opinion addressing these concerns.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues are related to gout affecting his elbows, hands, and knees as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression).

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection. The left knee disability and PTSD are denied service connection, but the Veteran receives a 50% rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability have been reopened. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence to support service connection for any of these conditions.,Service connection was denied as there is insufficient evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle sprain has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision. The right knee condition issue is remanded for further review.