Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity neurologic disability due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for TBI was granted, and he is now entitled to a grant of service connection. His left knee disability remains rated at 20 percent. The increased rating claim for his left knee disability was denied. Service connection claims for depression secondary to TBI, right knee patellar tendon rupture as secondary to service-connected left knee disability and/or TBI, and bilateral hearing loss were all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed disabilities for which service connection can be granted, and thus remanded the case to obtain clarification on his neck disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete adjudication of his claims, including a lack of consideration of new evidence submitted prior to the expiration of the appeal period. The issues include bilateral knee disability, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, IVDS, radiculopathy in both lower extremities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because the award of a TDIU would not assist in attaining SMC at the housebound rate, which has already been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his knee disabilities and GERD. The Board finds no need to assign a rating or effective date at this time.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle, acne, left wrist, left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of current disability ratings.

The Veteran's left knee instability/subluxation and strain with limitation of flexion, as well as his service-connected adjustment disorder, are being remanded for further evaluation. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's cervical segmental dysfunction and left knee disorder are granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability, in-service event, and causal relationship between his disabilities and service.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for a left knee condition and right knee condition are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected right knee scar, finding that there was no objective evidence of a painful or unstable scar greater than 39 square centimeters.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee tendonitis, right knee tendonitis, and related shin splints and leg disorders are granted. The Board finds the Veteran's claims for a left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and sinus disorder need to be remanded due to lack of VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and etiology opinions.

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not adequately comply with the October 2022 Board remand and thus, the cases are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development and consideration due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes osteoarthritis with a meniscal tear, is rated at 20 percent since August 27, 2020. Her right knee osteoarthritis remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthrosis and meniscal tear, as well as a compensable rating prior to August 22, 2011, for lumbar spine arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Additional medical opinions are required to address the Veteran's current level of disability and whether there were any periods before August 22, 2011, when he was entitled to a compensable rating.