Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a 20 percent rating, while his left and right knee chondromalacia remain at 10 percent ratings. The Veteran also receives a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and a retrospective examination to assess the severity of his left knee condition. The TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the remanded matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot and ankle disability, which is secondary to his already service-connected left knee disability. Further development is needed to obtain private treatment records from Central Medical Associates.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and remanded the issue of service connection for chronic sinusitis due to missing STRs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities as secondary to her service-connected pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between her service-connected condition and her current knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disabilities remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disorders, a back disability, and a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include service connection for various hip, knee, and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders due to incomplete STRs and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is presumed to have incurred his current disabilities in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that obesity did not play a role in causing the current left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with arthroplasty is granted a 100% rating from April 20, 2023. The Veteran also receives SMC under the PACT Act due to his total disability of the right knee and additional disabilities rated at least 60%. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability and low back strain with lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new retrospective opinion regarding additional functional loss of the left knee during flare-ups and upon repeated use, as well as to consider TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

Service connection is granted for left ankle degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right knee degenerative arthritis.,Service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea and Meniere's disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate retrospective opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability throughout the time period on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. The claims were not granted as the medical evidence did not support a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including right wrist condition with degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee conditions (patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis), left knee condition with degenerative arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine, and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine. Additionally, a VA examination is required to determine if his depression disorder is secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's headaches are service-connected. The issues of service connection for left knee, low back, and left shoulder disabilities have been remanded.