Knee decisions — 2023

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for a left knee disorder and a stomach disorder have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and right knee disorder, and has awarded a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are found to have caused her obesity, which in turn led to her obstructive sleep apnea. The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including those related to the lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left hip disabilities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate musculoskeletal examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sinusitis, eye disability, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), left shoulder disability, low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the current disabilities are not related to military service.,Service connection was also denied for residuals of a right wrist burn due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active-duty service. The Veteran contends that his right knee disability is related to his active-duty service, but a VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not associated with his service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limited extension, is rated at 20 percent. The left knee disorder, specifically the meniscus tear, also warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of left knee, left ankle, degenerative arthritis left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis right shoulder conditions. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is also REMANDED.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis is granted, related to an in-service back injury.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions and evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were dismissed due to the withdrawal of these issues by his attorney during a hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder is reopened, and the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for his right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia was granted service connection on a presumptive basis as it manifested within one year of his separation from service. The digestive disability (GERD) issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's hearing loss, pinguecula (eyes burning), sleep apnea, hypertension, left shoulder disability, allergies, shin splints, knee pain, and neck disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The PACT Act is not applicable to these claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain as secondary to his already service-connected shin splints.