Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, jaw, back and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right knee strain and instability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU rating due to pending development.

The Board has identified new evidence that was not previously considered and has ordered the AOJ to review this evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded so that the AOJ can consider all of the evidence, including the newly added VA-generated documents.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from November 1, 2007 to March 24, 2015 due to service-connected right total knee arthropathy and left medial hemiarthroplasty. The Board found the economic component of the claim was met as the Veteran had earned income below the federal poverty threshold during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of timely VA examination. The case is sent back for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and right great toe disability due to inadequate VA examinations in March 2015. The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is also being considered as potentially causing or aggravating these disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 100% from January 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022. A rating in excess of 60 percent for the period from September 1, 2022, is denied.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on May 16 and 19, 2018, at NRMC, and payment or reimbursement of ambulance expenses incurred on May 19, 2018, from ACAD. The decision is based on the Veteran's reasonable expectation that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to her life or health.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a generalized arthritis disorder and degenerative arthritis of the hips, knees, ankles and left shoulder to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine sacroiliitis due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and degenerative arthritis are granted service connection.,Prior to November 8, 2021, the rating for onychomycosis is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right hip disability. The right ankle disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and various musculoskeletal conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 20, 2011, to February 1, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection is granted for the lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. Service connection is also granted for the cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition and right knee condition, but denied service connection for his left elbow condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and leg disabilities, shoulder disabilities, and a neck disability. The VA will schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions and prepare dose estimates for any potential radiation exposure claims.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease prior to November 28, 2017 was rated at 10 percent due to painful motion with limited flexion.,The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2019 is currently rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% for painful limitation of motion and a separate 10% rating for instability. The appeal has been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome, right knee is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board's previous directives. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the condition.