Knee decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of intervertebral disc syndrome and left knee osteoarthritis due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral heel spurs, and a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to hearing loss, heart disability including CAD, hypertension (HTN), respiratory disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The effective dates of any potential grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (patella femoral), and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for these conditions are also denied.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his psychiatric condition.

The Board found the Appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which bars him from receiving VA benefits. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral knee disability, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to lack of current diagnoses in some cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and other conditions, prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from June 19, 2014, to April 20, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disability, but has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis with instability is rated at 10 percent since August 6, 2021. The rating for painful motion prior to December 13, 2022, and limited extension after that date are denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee lateral instability has been granted from the effective date of the August 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were initially granted with effective dates of February 6, 2014. The Veteran disagrees with these effective dates.,The Board finds that the earliest date for which service connection can be established is February 6, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain and degenerative arthritis, as well as bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's current conditions are believed to have started during his active military service.,Service connection was also granted for migraine headaches secondary to a pre-existing condition (service-connected anxiety disorder with insomnia disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to conflicting VA examination findings and a need for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder resulted in social and occupational impairment with at least occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks from June 1, 2016, to December 20, 2019.,The Veteran's right knee injury and Osgood-Schlatter disease and status post meniscus tear resulted in painful limited motion of the right knee from June 1, 2016, to November 14, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete examinations and a failure to apply the correct standard in determining whether pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service. Additional examination is needed to determine the etiology of the psychiatric disability and left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbosacral strain have been granted. The VA has also remanded the cases to obtain updated examinations to assess current severity of his left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability received a 100% rating for one year following the December 6, 2018, total knee replacement. The right sciatic nerve disability was rated at 20%. These ratings are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding both direct and secondary theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent vision impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.