Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee degenerative joint disease due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his knee and wrist conditions due to scheduling issues with VA examinations while he was incarcerated.

The Veteran's left knee condition is not service-connected as it was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type two.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and DVT of the left leg due to recent examinations revealing new symptoms and functional limitations. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee scars, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension prior to November 23, 2018 due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, higher ratings for his left knee disabilities, and entitlement to TDIU prior to August 13, 2002. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners and a need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for generalized arthritis, gout, a left knee disorder, a skin disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to exposure to herbicides and/or asbestos as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia, were rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record since the last review by the AOJ. The claims for service connection are being remanded for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including verification of dates of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not yet decided.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for new VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as the previous opinions did not adequately address the aggravation prong of secondary service connection.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 27, 2013 for the award of a 10 percent disability rating for left knee instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that there was no ascertainable increase in disability during the one-year period prior to her December 13, 2017, filing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's right knee instability and painful motion have been restored to a 20 percent disability rating from August 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for right-knee disorder. The Veteran's in-service complaints of right-knee issues need to be addressed, along with his lay statements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to neck, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities have been reopened. The claims are denied as a matter of law due to lack of evidence showing a persistent disability in service.,There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent from January 24, 2008.,From January 1, 2013 to April 9, 2017, the Veteran was granted a TDIU due to marginal employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations for right knee and hip disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. Retrospective opinions are needed to determine the severity of these conditions before the Veteran's death.