Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete treatment records. The claims for service connection, higher evaluations, and separate evaluations are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case, which is considered part of the legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA was granted effective December 1, 2003. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU from this date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during active service and thus service connection is granted.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be established as the evidence does not support a finding that it began or was aggravated by active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including right knee disability, low back disability, PTSD, substance abuse, liver disability, and heart disability. The Board has determined that these issues are remanded due to the need for further development or clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA examination records for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and left shoulder conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 31, 2016. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

Your right knee disability has been granted service connection, but the appeal for a higher rating is dismissed as there are no further issues in dispute.

Your appeal has been dismissed as you have opted into the modernized review system.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to additional development needed, including a retrospective opinion regarding flare-ups.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The remaining issues, including ratings for knee disabilities, are remanded due to the Veteran's inability to attend VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right total knee replacement. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability, including as secondary to his right knee disability, was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The case is being returned to obtain new examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition is granted, and he is now rated at 60 percent for his respiratory disability. The TDIU claim is also granted due to the combined effect of multiple disabilities. The claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for the respiratory disability and for service connection for NHL are withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a respiratory disability to include asthma, and a left knee disability to include degenerative joint disease need further review due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right knee conditions due to incomplete development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's migraine disability, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disability are all rated at 50 percent effective from December 13, 2022. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted in a separate decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, SMC by reason of being housebound prior to February 4, 2016, and SMC based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to new evidence added to the record.