Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellar regeneration, residuals of meniscal tear, patellar tendinosis and entitlement to a compensable rating for right knee surgical scars. The appeal for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left foot, left elbow, and left knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran was also denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, right knee, left knee, and ankle disabilities. The appeal is dismissed for the dental disorder.,For the remaining issues, the Board found that there was at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's current disabilities were incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various lower back and knee disabilities due to incomplete records and a need for clarification regarding his employment status prior to January 28, 2020.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for right knee numbness, left knee numbness, calcium deposits in both knees, low back condition, and neck condition are not resolved due to insufficient evidence. These matters have been returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim to restore the disability rating for lumbar myalgias secondary to spinal block was dismissed as it has been fully granted in a prior decision.,The Veteran's claim of an initial compensable disability rating for a left knee scar was withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for several issues, including obtaining updated service treatment records and seeking opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD, knees, sleep apnea, and migraines. The TDIU issue remains inapplicable until all other claims are resolved.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence showing a current disability and in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for neck pain/pinch, low back pain, left shoulder condition, and left knee condition are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disorder, right knee disability, and sleep apnea. The conditions are considered to be directly related to her periods of active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and further records development regarding the Veteran's claimed left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis has worsened and now requires specially adapted housing. The Board is remanding the cases for further examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, weight gain, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disabilities. The issues have been returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis prior to June 27, 2018 and whether a meniscal tear existed prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied because his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility, as they do not result in loss of use of both lower extremities or one lower extremity with a corresponding upper extremity.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's left knee disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper and has restored the original 20 percent rating. The remaining issues, including service connection for various disabilities, are remanded due to inadequate examination evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis of the whole body, other than the back, neck, knees, and right shoulder. Service connection is granted for arthritis of the right shoulder due to in-service parachute jumping activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as his blood pressure does not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned for further examination.