Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities have been reopened. The Board has determined that the evidence received since the January 2014 final rating decision is new and material to reopen these claims. However, the claims are still being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining new medical opinions to assess the severity of the appellant's knee disabilities and determine whether her neck disability is related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service or secondary to his right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders is granted, with the effective date being subject to rules governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment status and right knee disability, as well as the need for an updated VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disability, left heel cold injury, mood disorder with anxiety, and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure as the appellant withdrew her appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by his statements of in-service injury and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and entitlement to a Total Disability Rating for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 10, 2012 due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of clarity in the medical records regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tibula/fibula fracture and PTSD have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his hearing request.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his previously denied claims for right knee condition and back conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hip disabilities due to incomplete verification of his periods of active duty, inactive duty training, and ACDUTRA. Additionally, new etiology opinions are needed as the current ones are inadequate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for bilateral knee disorders, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back condition due to new evidence showing ongoing back pain since service. The left knee arthritis claims are remanded as additional evidence indicates worsening and recent surgery.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, left hip, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension is granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit under the PACT Act.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss as secondary to TBI is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss in the right ear is proximately due to his service-connected TBI.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, but dismissed the claims of service connection for skin disability and left knee/leg disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent from June 8, 2012 to August 23, 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective March 29, 2019.,From March 29, 2019 to August 23, 2019, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied a separate disability rating for right knee lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, finding no current diagnosis of such conditions and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim.