Knee decisions — 2023

Your appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to proceed with these claims as they are now inactive.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current disability had its onset in service.,For his patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, the Veteran's increased rating claim is denied. The VA examiner opined that the condition did not have its onset during service and there was no chronicity after service.,The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of motion, as flexion limited to 30 degrees. The claim for TDIU remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination, which did not account for the Veteran's reported flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back disability, diabetic retinopathy, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to insufficient evidence in the record.,Specifically, the Veteran's assertions of a link between his current disabilities and active service or service-connected conditions are not supported by adequate medical evidence.

The Veteran's requests to restore his prior ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral knee instability were denied as the evidence showed improvement that warranted lower ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee instability and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, as well as right ear hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 15, 2017. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent prior to January 9, 2022, for her service-connected left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral wrist, and right ring finger. The VA is required to provide a new examination and obtain nexus opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain on the basis that obesity, caused by service-connected Cushing's disease, was a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's left knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to a failure to substantially comply with its prior remand order. The claim is being returned for obtaining etiological opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for bilateral heel disabilities, timely substantive appeal regarding severance of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of left knee from 2009 to 2017, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded this case due to inadequate opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's reports of ongoing right knee pain since an in-service fall are not addressed, and the significance of radiographic evidence is unclear.

The Board has dismissed all issues of appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The appeal is now pending again with the Court.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 100 percent, and his back condition is granted a rating of 100 percent. The right thumb condition and left knee condition are both denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee conditions have been rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to their current severity, which does not warrant a higher evaluation.