Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the back, shoulder, hand, finger, and knee joints is denied. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle joint is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to difficulties in contacting the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and increased ratings for his right shoulder disability due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to PTSD, is granted. The remaining issues are remanded due to the complexity of the medical issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him during the periods from March 20, 2018 through November 30, 2020 and since March 23, 2022. However, the TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the period from December 1, 2020 through March 22, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's contention that he sustained an injury during active duty and thus his current condition is not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, including on an extraschedular basis. The case is being referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, forehead laceration, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability as a matter of law due to his failure to report for VA examinations.

The appeals for service connection for the listed disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that his current condition is not related to active service.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lichen planus and hemorrhoids are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for left knee arthritis with degenerative joint disease and medial meniscal/cartilage injury, right knee arthritis with degenerative joint disease, and prostate cancer have been granted. The claim for tinnitus has been remanded.,An increased rating for lumbar strain is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for various knee, hip, ankle, back, neck, and elbow disabilities. A 10 percent disability rating is also granted for headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative joint disease, left knee instability, depressive disorder, right shoulder disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding her left knee issues, including lateral instability and infection residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since November 6, 2018. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and instability. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the evaluation of the patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate, right and left knee disabilities for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder, cervical spine disability, total knee replacements on both knees, gout in multiple joints, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of cognitive disorder was denied, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet or more nearly approximate a higher disability rating. The right knee issue is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are all remanded for further development.