Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee and left hip disability due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence to support her claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and right hand conditions due to incomplete medical records and inaccurate factual premises in previous opinions.

The Veteran's GERD and OSA are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. His arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral knees, ankles, and hips is also being remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee arthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's combat service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records. The issues include hypertension, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, left ankle disorder, left hip/groin disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted service connection as it was incurred during his military service.,Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is presumed to have been caused by the Veteran's exposure to burn pits while serving in Southwest Asia.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, reopening his previously denied claim. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's left knee disability is etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions result in the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been granted special monthly compensation.

The Board has determined that the procedural course of the Veteran's appeal is at issue and remands the case for further action, including issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's chest pain disorder is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or due to a service-connected condition.,The left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further examination and opinion. The COPD claim is also remanded.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded, with the Veteran asserting his symptoms are related to in-service stressors. Service connection for COPD is also remanded based on the Veteran's assertion of gas exposure during service.,The left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further examination and opinion. The COPD claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a change in law regarding secondary service connection, and for additional opinions on whether the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability caused or aggravated his obesity and subsequent hip, low back, and knee disabilities.

Service connection for mycotic infections of the bilateral feet is granted. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for service-connected right knee incomplete posterior tear lateral meniscus to compensate for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee DJD, finding that her symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow disorders, as well as his cervical spine disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right foot disability, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's service connection claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his right foot disability. His increased rating claims are also being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his employment as a shift supervisor does not meet the criteria of substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to new and material evidence received since the prior denial in December 2007.,However, the claims are still denied as there is no probative medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which are inextricably intertwined with the rating issues.