Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent for painful motion, and a separate 10 percent rating has been granted for instability. The right hip condition remains under review due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for the left knee condition cannot be established without further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed heart disorders (hypertension, atypical angina, non-obstructive coronary artery disease) considering whether they are related to his service-connected right knee disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted a higher rating of 30 percent from July 23, 2015 until January 22, 2018 and from December 3, 2021 to the present. The left Achilles tendon disability is granted a higher rating of 20 percent from June 2021.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left knee, right knee degenerative arthritis have been rated at 20 percent and 10 percent respectively. The Board found no evidence to warrant increased ratings under the applicable criteria.,The Veteran reported constant pain in his knees with flare-ups that limit activities of daily living.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year following discharge. The VA examiner opined that the current left knee joint pain is not related to the anthrax vaccination received during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disability, left shoulder disability, left forearm disability, headache disorder, PFB, sinusitis and a disability manifested by indigestion have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year following discharge that could be presumed to have resulted from service.,The Veteran's complaints during service were noted but resolved with treatment. No current disabilities related to these issues were found, and the VA examiner opined that any current symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right ankle sprain. Additional development is needed as per a joint motion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied, and a separate 10 percent disability rating was granted for limitation of flexion with painful motion. The maximum schedular rating (30%) for patellofemoral pain syndrome is maintained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee limitation of flexion and extension have been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate opinions from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, left ankle recurrent sprain, TBI, and headaches were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder was also denied.

The Veteran is granted clothing allowances for a right knee brace and topical medication (Desonide) used to treat his service-connected conditions in 2015.

The Board denied service connection for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee strain, chest pain, and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, a new VA examination is required for the left knee strain and chest pain issues.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right thumb disability, acquired psychiatric disability, left and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, neck disability, allergic rhinitis, and headache disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied. The appeal for service connection of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hand disorder, and the case is remanded for further examination to determine if current knee or shoulder disabilities are related to service.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability should be remanded due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay contentions regarding his symptoms and aggravation by his service-connected condition.