Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2008, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted. The claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left upper extremity vascular disease are remanded due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service or otherwise related to service. Other claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, back, right ankle, left ankle, left foot and toes, right foot and toes, right knee, or left knee disabilities.,The evidence does not establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck, lower back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are related to his service-connected left ankle disability. The VA examinations were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be related to active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims related to his thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, shingles with post-herpetic neuralgia, and bilateral knee disability. The Board has remanded these claims for further development.

The Veteran's IBS and associated fecal incontinence are rated at 30 percent, effective June 1, 2008. A separate 30 percent rating is granted for anal fissures from the same date. The Veteran is granted a TDIU from June 1, 2008 to September 11, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension and left wrist disability. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome and right knee instability due to inadequate examination findings and inability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding his depression, respiratory disorder, and right knee disorders.

The Board has restored a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome effective June 1, 2017. The appeal regarding entitlement to a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since November 7, 2017. The RO has denied increased ratings for the right knee instability prior to May 14, 2021 and from May 14, 2021, as well as for the left knee instability prior to December 5, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's left knee symptoms, and for an examination and medical opinion addressing the Veteran's impairment without considering the ameliorating effects of meloxicam, ibuprofen, and hydrocortisone cream.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are granted as service-connected, while his right and left knee disabilities and deviated septum are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFS). The effective dates are not specified as they were not on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, including service treatment records and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, with shin splints and ankle strain are being remanded due to the introduction of new VA medical evidence that was not considered in the most recent decision. The Veteran must be provided a new VA examination to consider her newly reported symptomology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disability, back disability (claimed as aggravated by right knee), and acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of a medical nexus. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as well as the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities include musculoskeletal issues, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, lung conditions, headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, kidney conditions, eye conditions, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development. The issues of rating higher than 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.