Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection of a left knee disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and left knee scars. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was reopened based on new evidence but denied as there is no clear and unmistakable aggravation by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher initial and increased ratings based on limitations of flexion, extension, instability, and meniscal disorder of his right knee. The VA examiner is requested to provide more detailed information about these manifestations during flare-ups.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent, effective from February 21, 2018.,Initial ratings of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities based on limited flexion are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various arm, shoulder, hip, and knee disorders have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board has also found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation for some of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been remanded for further development.,A separate claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a surgical procedure on the cervical spine in 2013 has also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle conditions, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral achilles spurs are etiologically related to his active-duty service.,Service connection was denied for left and right knee conditions due to a lack of evidence showing any currently diagnosed disabilities or functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to missing medical records. The Veteran needs to provide any relevant private records, including those from Los Gatos Hospital and his ACL repair surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and scar above right eye. The issues have been returned to the RO for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the right knee disorder and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's right knee disorder is considered aggravated beyond its natural progression during service. Additionally, his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee limitation of flexion and left knee instability due to conflicting findings in previous VA examinations regarding joint stability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including psoriasis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as memory loss), bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral knee conditions. The decision also mentions a brain tumor claim.

The Board granted clothing allowances for the Veteran's back and knee braces used to treat service-connected disabilities, as they tended to wear or tear his clothing in 2014.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted separate ratings for instability/subluxation and arthritis with painful motion, effective prior to the date of surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a right knee disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of recent medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and for an increased rating for right knee strain due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities such as left knee instability and lumbosacral strain, rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 12, 2020.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated compensable prior to February 12, 2020. A rating of 10 percent is granted from that date.,Right knee issues are remanded for further examination and evaluation.