Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities due to incomplete examination and outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability, but granted a 30 percent rating from May 14, 2010. The decision also remanded issues regarding widespread degenerative joint disease and left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected.,An initial rating of 10 percent for right knee joint osteoarthritis and a separate 10 percent rating based on removal of semilunar cartilage are granted. The Veteran also has other issues remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back, neck, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The VA must obtain updated medical opinions addressing the severity of these conditions without the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disability is granted. Service connection for right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis is also granted, but the issues of service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatica are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee instability prior to July 1, 2021. The case is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of left shoulder, elbow, thigh/groin, knee, and ankle disabilities due to lack of current disability. The back and pulmonary disorder claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking his claimed conditions to his active-duty service.,Additional development is required to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from any of these conditions, as well as whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial rating periods for right knee limitation of extension, right knee limitation of flexion, and right ankle disability have been denied. The RO has assigned noncompensable (0%) ratings for the right knee limitation of flexion since November 13, 2021, and reduced the right knee rating to 20% from December 1, 2015. The right ankle disability is rated at 20%, effective November 26, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing various theories of entitlement, including direct incurrence, secondary to service-connected conditions, and exposure-based theories. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the Board has requested additional medical opinions to address the conflicting evidence of record.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disorders, as her recent surgeries may have affected their progression.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability has been granted initial ratings of 50% for right and left knee strain, but no higher. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current condition and that the medical evidence did not support a link between his knee problems and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disorder, finding that his current conditions are not related to any in-service injury or disease. The claims were based on direct service connection and presumptive service connection due to shin splints during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable and new medical opinions are needed to address his claims for service connection. The case is being remanded for these purposes.