Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right hip, left hip, right knee, or left knee disorder related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or incident resulting in current hip and knee conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including left foot pain, back disability, hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and neurobehavioral effects related to chemical exposure. The claims for insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, right knee condition, left knee condition, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, and alcohol abuse are remanded due to the need for further examination and evidence collection.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including obtaining a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed right and left foot disabilities and right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, migraine headaches, and right knee strain have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability. The claims for tinnitus, low back condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for neck, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder conditions related to the Veteran's parachute jumps in service.

Service connection for left hand disability is granted, and the effective date of service connection for left knee mild osteoarthritis and right wrist tendonitis is set at May 20, 2015.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the flexion disability from October 25, 2021 to December 2, 2022. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,No compensable rating was granted for hearing loss prior to September 3, 2020, from September 3, 2020, to May 20, 2021, and thereafter.

The Board has remanded the initial rating claims for right knee degenerative changes and status post left leg compartment release due to insufficient motion loss estimates during flare-ups provided by VA clinicians.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further development, including an addendum opinion regarding the need for a total knee replacement.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis affecting multiple joints, including the back, ankles, hands, hips, and knees. The decision is based on a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a jaw condition and loss of tooth #9 were denied in May 2012 and April 2011 rating decisions, respectively. The RO determined that the evidence of record failed to demonstrate that the Veteran had a diagnosis of a jaw condition or chronic residuals of trauma or disease of the jaw or hard palate.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a bilateral knee disability were denied in April 2011 and May 2012 rating decisions, respectively. The RO determined that the evidence of record failed to demonstrate that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus had been permanently aggravated or that secondary service connection was warranted for a knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and insomnia, is granted. The claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, as secondary to his right total knee arthroplasty, is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable prior to April 2, 2018 and granted a 10% rating from that date. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee bursitis and residual ankle pain due to recurrent soft tissue infection with cellulitis of the left lower leg.

The Board has determined that more contemporaneous VA examinations are required to provide a current picture of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities at issue on appeal, and remands for these examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it has been raised by the record.

The Veteran's limitation of extension of the left knee was granted a 40 percent disability rating from February 24, 2015, through April 9, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left hip, right hip, and back disabilities is REMANDED.,PTSD ratings are also REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion or scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar disorders. The claims for increased PTSD rating and service connection for headaches and joint pain/rheumatoid arthritis are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for new opinions. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.