Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further consideration due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee strain, right knee strain, and degenerative arthritis of the spine have been denied. The reduction from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine effective December 7, 2016 was proper.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and a need to obtain additional private medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, to include chondromalacia patella, based on a finding of chronic symptoms during active service and the presumption under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has remanded this case due to insufficient evidence regarding the necessity of the requested home modifications and accommodations. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the previous VA examination, specifically regarding range of motion testing and instability testing. The Veteran's mobility issues and fear of falling prevent these tests from being conducted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of extension or a compensable rating for limitation of flexion.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service or secondary to his right knee disability. The claim will be readjudicated after any additional development.

The Veteran's right knee internal derangement was granted a rating of 30 percent from October 22, 2012 to November 15, 2022.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee internal derangement is denied after November 15, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his service.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the left knee has been remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected right knee sprain. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension remains in a similar state.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right foot crushing injury and sprain of tarsometatarsal ligament of the right foot. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability and back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for left and right knee disorders, thoracolumbar spine disorder, sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and residual surgical scars related to thoracolumbar spine disorder are denied. The Board has remanded these issues due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to address the issues of a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability and a temporary total evaluation following his November 10, 2021, right knee surgery.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DM II is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Korea. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents and grants service connection on a presumptive basis under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). Service connection for left knee condition is remanded due to inadequate VA examination, while right knee condition is granted as secondary to left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of hiatal hernia surgery, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right and left knee strains, as well as service connection for a kidney disorder secondary to hypertension. The claim for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no indications of severe disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection claim for a left knee disorder, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notice for a VA examination related to the left knee disability. The Veteran's service connection claim is now pending again.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities was denied from August 31, 2016. From June 18, 2018, the Veteran received additional separate 10 percent ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities.