Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for sinusitis is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for a left eye condition has been denied.,The Veteran's initial ratings for right knee limitation of extension and instability have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has ordered remand for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for various knee, hip, back, and sciatic nerve disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for knee conditions, service connection for ankle, hand, foot, and cardiac conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of the ratings assigned for his lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left and right knee osteoarthritis has been dismissed as the award of a TDIU effective March 2, 2012 satisfies the Veteran's appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted the reopening of a claim for service connection for hypertension, which is now considered secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The issue regarding bilateral knee disability remains pending as it was remanded and requires further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, chronic cervicogenic tension related headaches, compression fracture T7, right knee degenerative joint disease, cervical strain, tinnitus, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and dermatitis, have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 28, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected OSA. The Board has also remanded for further development regarding ratings for his right knee, left knee, and left hip conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,Service connection for right knee disability and left elbow disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and no causal relationship between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's reduction in rating for lumbar spine disability from 20% to 10% is restored, and her claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for numbness in the lower lip and jaw, increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete evaluations, including lack of opinions regarding the etiology of her musculoskeletal conditions and skin disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined as they all relate to reactive arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma, and a right knee condition due to procedural issues. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his knee disabilities due to incomplete examination reports, lack of medical evidence regarding onset of conditions during service, and need for additional development. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent prior to October 15, 2018. The Board finds the disability picture shown in the October 2018 VA examination report best represents her disability for this period.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that require further evaluation and clarification of their etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and a left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and degenerative disk disease thoracolumbar spine due to lack of verification of National Guard service and need for VA examinations.