Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his left knee and psychiatric conditions, caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination in a previous decision. The case is sent back for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 28, 2019. From January 28, 2019, it was rated greater than 60 percent.,For his right total knee replacement, the Veteran's disability remained at 10 percent prior to November 11, 2021 and was remanded for a higher rating from May 1, 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin condition including skin cancer, and a right knee disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for benign neoplasms of the gynecological system or breast (claimed as lipomas over body) is also remanded.,Service connection was not granted for heart disease due to an insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's Reserve periods.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disabilities (prior to September 2022) due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for AOJ review of additional VA-generated evidence, and will not make a determination on the merits until further action is taken.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no nexus to service or to his service-connected back disability. The decision also found that obesity did not cause his knee condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various knee conditions and other musculoskeletal disorders. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records from private providers that have been scanned into VISTA imaging system.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for right and left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease based on instability from April 9, 2019. The decision is subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, a back disability secondary to bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and left knee disability (secondary to right knee) due to irregularities in scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to his case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow degenerative joint disease, a higher rating for his left knee disability, and an earlier effective date for his service connection. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with osteoarthritis. The issues of service connection for a left hip disability, right hip disability, and back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. The TDIU claim remains pending and will be readjudicated after all evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee was granted, with a separate 10 percent rating assigned for painful flexion. The existing 10 percent rating under DC 5257 is maintained.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a meniscal tear and instability, was granted a 20% rating prior to June 25, 2018. A separate 20% rating for left knee instability is also granted during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right knee and lower back disorders, as they are related to a left total knee replacement with arthritis. The VA will need to provide new medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's lay contentions regarding the onset of his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's lay contentions regarding continuous knee pain since service are not addressed in the VA medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for a separate 20 percent rating for right knee impairment under Diagnostic Code 5258 as it is not permissible to appeal such decisions.