Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right and left knee disabilities, including limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability was granted. Service connection for a right knee disability, secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, is also granted. The claims for an initial compensable rating for a left knee surgical scar and for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) of the left wrist are remanded. The claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 20 percent rating for semilunar cartilage pain of the left knee status pre-replacement from July 12, 2013 until prior to September 14, 2015 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of VA examinations. The issues include lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral foot disorders, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, and gynecological disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, bilateral knee disorder, skin disorder, and psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

Service connection has been granted for patellofemoral pain syndrome of each knee, impingement syndrome of each ankle, and tinnitus. The claims for service connection for a right groin disorder, left lower leg muscle strain, right lower leg muscle strain, shin splints of the left leg, shin splints of the right leg, disability of the spine, and chipped upper right tooth due to trauma are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and lower extremity neuropathies, have resulted in the loss of use of both lower extremities. This has been determined to preclude locomotion without regular and constant use of assistive devices such as braces, a cane, and a walker. As a result, eligibility for specially adapted housing is granted. However, this legally precludes a separate special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, right knee, and sinus conditions due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show complaints of knee problems during service, but no current diagnoses are provided in his VA medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral eye disability, headaches, psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, knee and hip disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hearing loss, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to MST and bipolar disorder is granted. Claims for gangrene of the left foot, gangrene of the left knee, gangrene of the right foot, and gangrene of the right knee are denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee scar, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss claims due to incomplete or inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's plantar fasciitis and right knee disability have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. The limitation of extension for the right knee has also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of bilateral knees is related to service. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion and consider all submitted evidence, including a study from the National Institute of Health.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are remanded due to outstanding treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran is also scheduled for examinations closer to his home or via telehealth.

The Veteran's hypertension, left upper and right upper extremity neuropathy, left knee disability, and right knee disability are granted. The Veteran's DM is remanded for increased rating consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and bilateral pes planus disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends were aggravated by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or are related to his pre-existing bilateral pes planus.