Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date due to concerns about the completeness of the record and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to new evidence received since the last Statement of the Case. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his left knee disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to September 1, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left ear disability, back pain, neck pain, left arm disability, right arm disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The issues have been remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for rating ratings of knee conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities due to issues with previous examinations and a need for new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his orthopedic conditions. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for a 10% rating for right knee osteophytes and service connection for right foot drop, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus. The effective date is set at February 25, 2018.

The Veteran's claim of increased rating for a left knee disability is denied as he withdrew his appeal without good cause. The Board also remanded the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains, gastroesophageal disease (GERD) with gastric ulcer, left tricep tendonitis, and cervical strain have all been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.,A separate rating was denied for each condition due to the Veteran's flexion and extension limitations not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are being reviewed again to determine their severity throughout the period on appeal.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left knee disability and denied service connection for his right foot spur, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus have been reopened. The appeal regarding TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for service connection are remanded due to new and material evidence having been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and that any symptoms were not caused by service. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) in service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the pre-amended or amended VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for chronic thoracolumbar strain was denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal claim before August 31, 2017.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted based on in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and a bilateral foot disability to include metatarsalgia due to outstanding medical opinions and additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and neck disability are remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial of his petition to reopen. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and sleep apnea. The left knee, right wrist, erectile dysfunction (ED), and headaches claims are still pending and will be remanded.,Service connection has been established for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and sleep apnea.