Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, shin splints, and right knee disability. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the combined effects of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to increased ratings for a psychiatric condition, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and service connection for a left knee disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of his/her appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her left knee and elbow conditions, render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disabilities, including PFS and painful limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 22, 2017 for the grants of service connection for PTSD, tinea versicolor, and IBS are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for impaired vision (refractive error), neck disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all denied.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement residuals are rated at 60 percent since May 20, 2021. The Board finds that the condition most closely approximates chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, limited flexion, and meniscal impairment. The rating of 20 percent after April 27, 2022, for limited extension is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot, left foot, and right knee disabilities are related to his service. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions have been diagnosed or if they are due to his service.,The Veteran's OSA claim will be remanded as a VA medical opinion is necessary to address whether it is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is evaluated at a 50% rating prior to June 30, 2022 and at a 70% rating thereafter. The Board denied an increased evaluation for PTSD.,Service connection for OSA and left knee condition are remanded as the VA examinations did not address the Veteran's claims in full.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, right knee, left foot, and back conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's knee and spine conditions are remanded for further examination. His respiratory, heart, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities are also remanded due to the similar nature of the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee torn medial meniscus disability and left knee instability/ recurrent subluxation, due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding his treatment with a private medical provider. The AOJ is required to request this missing information from the Veteran and obtain any relevant records.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left foot disorders, as well as initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, left ankle arthritis, and rosacea are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions and missed examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain updated treatment records, provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes, OSA, right knee condition, and headaches, and reschedule the Veteran for a headache examination.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted. The remaining issues, including right knee disability, left foot disability, and tingling skin of the left knee and leg, are being remanded for further evaluation.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, leading to their grant. However, additional evaluations are needed to determine service connection for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities due to additional evidence added after the January 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 13, 2023. Beginning on that date, his TDIU is granted due to the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD. The issue of SMC based on housebound status has been dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service connected due to arthritis that has been present since her separation from active duty.