Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to alcoholism has been dismissed due to his withdrawal request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran reported in-service bilateral knee injuries, but the VA examiner found no current diagnoses. The Board requests a new examination to determine if any identified conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of left knee flexion and extension, as well as TDIU prior to September 4, 2018, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for either limitation of flexion or extension. For TDIU, the Veteran's combined ratings from service-connected disabilities were less than 70% before September 4, 2018.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's left elbow scar. The right knee disability claim is being remanded due to inadequate examination and need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to receipt of additional VA medical evidence. The AOJ is instructed to consider this new evidence and provide notice with an opportunity to respond.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right thumb/hand disorders, right elbow and ankle disabilities, left hip strain, neck disability, and left shoulder disability due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee and left hip disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. Service connection for sinusitis is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot and knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of pes planus, hammertoes, and degenerative joint disease have been continuous since service separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address certain findings. The claims will be remanded for further development, including an examination that tests range of motion in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing.

The Board has determined that additional medical evaluations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee total arthroplasty and left ankle degenerative joint disease, as well as whether there is any potential limiting of the issues. The Veteran must also be provided notice regarding his claim for an increased rating for his left ankle degenerative joint disease.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of October 27, 2014 for the service connection of cervical strain, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions, including left thumb fracture, lumbar and cervical spine conditions, right shoulder and knee conditions, ankle and foot conditions, and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities. Service connection is also granted for a skin disability affecting the elbows and back of the neck.

The claims for service connection for tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been reopened. The claim for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims for service connection are not granted as there is no persuasive evidence that any current residuals of spleen removal, hip, knee, or lumbar spine disabilities were incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and lower extremities polyneuropathy, as the current evaluations do not reflect the full extent of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in addressing whether the May 1, 2014 surgery repaired the Veteran's ACL tear and if this was indicative of the MRI finding.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis, is rated at 20 percent for instability starting from February 7, 2021. The appeal was granted on this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain and has remanded the issues of service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, and requested a new VA examination.