Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his left knee meniscal tear with ACL tear, left knee instability, and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran served in Vietnam and contends his current disabilities are related to combat injuries.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings of 50 percent for left knee limitation of extension, 30 percent for left knee limitation of flexion, and 30 percent for left knee instability have been granted. The claim for an initial rating of 30 percent for right knee limitation of flexion has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by both the Veteran and his representative, thus the case is dismissed.

The reduction of rating for a right knee disability from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective September 1, 2018, was not proper and restoration of a 10 percent rating is granted. Entitlement to a higher rating for the right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 20 percent rating effective December 10, 2019. The right total knee replacement with residual of decreased range of motion and pain is also rated at a 20 percent rating from the same date. Service connection for back disability has been denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability and lumbar condition are granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left leg disabilities caused his alcohol use and/or cannabis use disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for his back, right knee, and left knee conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions for the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee disability and TDIU due to the submission of new evidence since the last statement of the case. The VA must consider all submitted evidence in their initial review.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's left knee disability, including rating claims and a TDIU determination. The AOJ is instructed to issue an updated Supplemental Statement of Case (SSOC) considering additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee conditions due to additional evidence received after previous statements of the case.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and left testicle varicocele with voiding dysfunction are granted. The Veteran is assigned a 40% rating for the left testicle varicocele condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is now granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that additional evidence received by VA should be reviewed by the RO, and the claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for this review.

The Board has identified new evidence that was not previously considered and requires the AOJ to review this evidence before making a decision on your claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to verify the Veteran's deployment to Kuwait. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence, including National Guard records and Social Security Administration disability award information.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic bronchitis, as the evidence did not show that it began during or was related to active duty.,Service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease status post meniscal tear was also denied because there is no evidence showing that the condition began during or was related to active duty.