Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has ordered another remand due to the need for a VA medical opinion that adequately addresses the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury to his knee. The previous opinions did not address whether any left knee disability had its clinical onset during service or is due to an event or incident of the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the passage of time since his last VA examination and potential interference with his ability to attend examinations as a primary caregiver.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various knee and hip disabilities have been denied. The claims are based on the merits of the disability, not a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disabilities and a back disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his service-connected injuries are considered, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeals are remanded for further development and rating actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his shoulder, spine, elbow, knee, and tension headaches disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is required to provide two independent medical opinions supporting his diagnoses and their relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee disorder and an eye disorder due to missing service treatment records. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee DJD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of staged ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees due to a lack of medical evidence addressing the Veteran's assertions regarding her knee pain during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral foot conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 18, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and surgical scars of the right knee. Additionally, the TDIU claim prior to August 16, 2018, is also being remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it was incurred or aggravated during her period of ACDUTRA in 2004. The Veteran seeks service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee strain and instability has been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 10 percent for his left knee strain, with a separate rating of 10 percent for his left knee instability.

The Veteran's gout, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are all remanded for further evaluation. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining updated medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities have a common etiology or are the result of a single accident, as this could potentially allow for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus no further action will be taken on these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected status-post left knee ACL reconstruction is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current symptoms and functional limitations.

The Veteran's left arm/hand numbness is granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty is granted a rating of 60 percent during specific periods. The Veteran's initial rating for his left shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded all other issues due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).