Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's request for retroactive payment under Chapter 31 of the United States Code, for education expenses incurred while pursuing his Associate degree in Diesel Technology is denied. The Board found that not all criteria for retroactive induction into the VR&E program were met.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right foot, left foot, left knee, headaches, chest pains, and blurred vision disabilities due to incomplete treatment records at the Jacksonville CBOC. The Veteran's current disability diagnoses are being evaluated in light of his service-connected thoracolumbar strain, sprain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and earlier effective dates. The appeal is not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, gastritis, and heart disability have been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear are related to his active service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability on a secondary aggravation basis. The right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 70 percent prior to March 1, 2016. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's right knee strain has been rated at 10 percent since February 20, 2020. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,Effective from February 20, 2020, the Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,For the period prior to October 27, 2022, the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warranted a 10 percent rating. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,Beginning from October 27, 2022, the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warranted a 20 percent rating. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,For the period prior to March 1, 2016, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and vocational history.

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

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for a right hip disorder and a right knee disorder as they have been fully granted in a July 2022 rating decision.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral knee disability, as the Veteran did not report for his scheduled examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The remaining issues of service connection for cervical, left knee, right knee, and heart conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to concerns about the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to address pain on range of motion testing and functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a broken rib.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thrombocytopenia was granted in June 2020. The Veteran's migraine headaches were caused by exposure to jet fuel as well as his service-connected thrombocytopenia. A 10 percent disability rating for right knee painful scar from April 25, 2014, forward is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for GERD, IBS, bladder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability are all remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee condition and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed right knee condition. The case is being returned for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis and arthralgia, finding that the Veteran's current disability originated in service. Service connection was also granted for left tibia fracture residuals but is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.