Knee decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities as well as thyroid disability (hypothyroidism).,The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran contends that his current disabilities are related to in-service jumping from military vehicles with heavy equipment.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as cardiovascular disability other than hypertension and PVD. The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeals on these issues.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are denied as service connection is not warranted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his PTSD.,The Veteran's bilateral blepharitis and early cataracts are denied as they are not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hand osteoarthritis and left knee disorder are granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence is at least as likely as not that her back disorder had its onset during service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to her service-connected bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps are related to his current condition. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete range of motion findings and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hand scar, left knee strain, and right knee strain were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent. The denial was based on the fact that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination related to his knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability due to incomplete service treatment records. Additional VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative changes of the lower thoracic spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left rotator cuff degenerative joint disease with impingement, left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia, and right knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's Army Reserve duty periods and associated medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and right foot disorder are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities from May 13, 1991 through May 11, 2010 was denied. The effective date for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to May 12, 2010 was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, and her right knee disability need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including shin splints, finding that there was no evidence to suggest injury or condition involving the left knee during active service.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability, effective April 22, 2010. The Veteran reported experiencing right knee instability prior to December 22, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, foot, and wrist disorders due to inadequate opinions in the February 2021 VA examination reports. The examiner is requested to provide addendum opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these disorders, including their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee subluxation and limitation of motion, as well as his TDIU from July 1, 2014 onward, was granted. The Veteran now has a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to preclude her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore a TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy.