Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted, thus denying the reopening of the claim. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee and ankle disabilities, as well as an initial compensable rating for a left knee surgical scar, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, migraine headaches, back disability, arthritis of unspecified joints to include left knee disability, residuals of injury to the left and right toes, IBS, and hypertension have been remanded due to incomplete service records and need further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for his left knee disabilities is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee, left foot, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The Veteran's left knee and left foot disabilities are related to in-service injuries, but the right ankle disability is not clearly linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings for his thoracic disability, coccydynia, right knee chondromalacia patella, right wrist CTS, left wrist CTS, and related fingers. Service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, left knee condition, and right knee condition are all related to his military service. The claims for PTSD and the bilateral knee conditions have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was previously granted in an October 2022 rating decision. The Board has dismissed this issue as the full benefit sought (service connection) has been granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. The left knee, bilateral thumb condition, low back condition, and left foot condition are all remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for GERD is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 17, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's cases due to a lack of VA examination for lumbosacral strain and right knee strain, which were previously denied increased ratings. The Veteran was not provided with an appropriate VA examination as scheduled.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right wrist disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for her service-connected knee disabilities is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for an opinion regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on her knee symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 1, 2022.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service connection for knee and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The main issue is the secondary service connection claim for right and left knee conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his right knee extension was not limited to greater than 20 degrees and his right knee flexion was not limited to fewer than 90 degrees during the period beginning December 12, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including right shoulder glenohumeral degenerative arthritis, left shoulder glenohumbral degenerative arthritis, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee, wrist, back, elbow, and hip disabilities manifested by pain are granted. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to changes in rating criteria for knee disabilities and the need to obtain relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis and left ankle arthritis are granted increased disability ratings, while the left knee degenerative arthritis postoperative residuals remain denied.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left knee instability are granted with a disability rating of 30 percent effective December 17, 2019. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 40 percent rating.