Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to these disabilities. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities and whether they are related to his active service or other conditions.

The Board has restored a 10 percent rating for left knee laxity, effective October 24, 2018. The issue of an increased rating for left knee laxity is added to the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing a medical opinion on the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for service-connected left ankle scars has been denied as the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DCs 7801 and 7802.,The effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain is set at June 26, 2018, as it was more than one year after the Veteran filed his claim.

Service connection is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee strain, right knee strain, left ankle tendonitis, right ankle tendonitis, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas bursitis/tendinitis, and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas bursitis/tendinitis.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection, and other issues due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations. The Veteran needs additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of his right knee condition, etiology of his sleep disorder, bilateral foot conditions, right ankle condition, and sinus condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's findings regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his bilateral knee disabilities, which may be related to service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and initial ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee strain with chondrocalcinosis and degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,No new or material evidence was presented, so no changes in rating were granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hip disabilities due to procedural issues with the Notice of Disagreement form.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee conditions was granted, with a final rating of 30 percent for the entire period on appeal. The decision includes separate ratings for limitation of flexion (10%), limitation of extension (10%), and instability (10%).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, with a 60 percent rating effective from June 1, 2010. The decision also denied a higher rating based on limitation of flexion from January 14, 2009 to April 6, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee disability with limitation of extension and flexion was denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has identified procedural defects in the rating reduction of left-knee extension and flexion, and is remanding the case for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 30 percent rating prior to September 28, 2018 and a 50 percent rating thereafter. The right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain, lumbosacral strain (lumbar strain disability), bilateral wrist strains due to deficiencies in the adequacy of prior VA examinations and need for additional clarification regarding functional loss.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating due to normal range of motion. The left knee disability was initially rated noncompensable but later assigned a 10 percent rating. Both conditions are currently remanded for further development.,A left inguinal hernia has been remanded for evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee arthritis and strain, but denied service connection for his right knee disorder (including arthritis), right shin splints, left shin splints, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and right foot disorder. The decision is based on the finding that the preexisting left knee disability was aggravated by service.